tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224966772019-01-06T09:28:23.271+00:00alan sloman's big walkAlan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comBlogger1177125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-28817855867046514502018-07-14T20:41:00.000+01:002018-08-18T14:10:23.797+01:00Summit to Eat Freeze Dried Meals: Review, NOW WITH UPDATES!<div style="text-align: justify;">With three hundred days to the start of the fortieth Great Outdoors Challenge - you will have spotted the new countdown clock over to the right, I'm sure - my keyboard has once again been pressed into service.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Prior to this year's TGO Challenge, Lauren - an Outreach &amp; Digital PR Manager - asked me if I would be interested in testing some free meals for her client, Summit to Eat. The meals didn't make it in time to take on the Challenge, and so there's been little opportunity for me to test them in the field / up a hill / on a mountain / in my beautiful Trailstar.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had a bit of rotten news this afternoon that made me feel I'd been punched in the solar plexus and consequently didn't feel like spending time creating another culinary sensation in the kitchen - I'm sure that that Blumenthal fellow pinches all my best work - and so seized the opportunity to catch up on my promise to Lauren.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, Heston - I know you're reading this - here's how to make a first class Salmon &amp; Broccoli Pasta dish.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li>Boil a kettle. That's not difficult.</li><li>Pour 280 ml of boiling water into the pouch - there's an easy to see fill-line inside the pouch.</li><li>Stir well. You need the exercise.</li><li>Reseal the pouch and cover with a tea-towel to keep it piping hot.</li><li>Wait ten minutes. The packaging actually suggests eight. Trust me on this.</li><li>Lay the dining table. Pour some searingly dry white wine into a polished glass, and a little tap water. We don't want anyone getting squiffy.</li><li>Serve in your best white china. Patterned stuff simply will not do.</li></ul><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">For members of the congregation that are either illiterate or too bone-idle to read the instructions, I have provided an easy to follow illustrated guide below.&nbsp;</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-43eIhwC4ATs/W0pJfvCqMyI/AAAAAAAAu00/fp7NwaQw2EQ7S28VcJWxdNQ3hW2Yq14hACKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180714_183046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-43eIhwC4ATs/W0pJfvCqMyI/AAAAAAAAu00/fp7NwaQw2EQ7S28VcJWxdNQ3hW2Yq14hACKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20180714_183046.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AfJGrCYCbrE/W0pJfl0UNcI/AAAAAAAAu00/e4ko3Fn1Qq48LLVKbzmnR4LRGa8WnEDuwCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180714_183318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AfJGrCYCbrE/W0pJfl0UNcI/AAAAAAAAu00/e4ko3Fn1Qq48LLVKbzmnR4LRGa8WnEDuwCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20180714_183318.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RIGHT-CLICK TO OPEN TO A LARGE SIZE IN A NEW TAB</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lGMmuY0woqU/W0pJfuflWmI/AAAAAAAAu00/IMvbWpXx83cPmYJIkUICrd53od_lkRt2gCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180714_183657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lGMmuY0woqU/W0pJfuflWmI/AAAAAAAAu00/IMvbWpXx83cPmYJIkUICrd53od_lkRt2gCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20180714_183657.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AQcfE11G1KI/W0pJfms98EI/AAAAAAAAu00/syGcWUc6DSc9q2BhbxzuW1RqKvvz9aA1ACKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180714_185306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AQcfE11G1KI/W0pJfms98EI/AAAAAAAAu00/syGcWUc6DSc9q2BhbxzuW1RqKvvz9aA1ACKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20180714_185306.jpg" width="460" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And how was it?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've frequently found that dried meals taste pretty damn good when cooked in your tent. Mind you, it has to be said that I'm usually ready to eat a horse by the time I'm cooking on the hill. However, they don't travel particularly well when served at home. They too often taste like the horse I was about to eat one spoonful at a time.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Summit to Eat's Salmon &amp; Broccoli Pasta, on the other hand, tastes really, really good! You can actually see chunks of Salmon and large pieces of Broccoli in a beautiful creamy pasta sauce. Take a look at the second picture for the ingredients: Beautifully simple, with no added chemicals what-so-ever.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's not over-seasoned and is utterly delightful!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A point to note, that I only realised after I had licked the last of the food from the pasta bowl, is that the packaging is quite shallow, so if you are forced to eat one of the meals out on the hill - though Lord only knows why you would want to drag your sorry carcass up a hill to eat this wonder food - you won't get your knuckles covered in food.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My advice? Buy some and see for yourself. I still have another five meals (FREE ones at that!) to tickle my taste-buds and from what I've experienced so far, I'm really looking forward to them.<br /><br />You can find out much more about Summit to Eat food by clicking the link below:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.summittoeat.com/" target="_blank">SUMMIT TO EAT</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">*****</span></div><br /><u><b>UPDATE: 18th August 2018</b></u><br /><u><br /></u>On the hill I very often have a dehydrated pudding as a breakfast; you can only eat so many Granola Bars before your system screams for a reprieve. In another couple of my lazier moments this week I've had Summit to Eats's Custard Apple Crunch and their Chocolate Mousse with Cherry and Granola as midnight feasts.<br /><br />I want you to keep this a secret - just between us, okay? - as I don't want hordes of hungry hikers besieging Summit to Eat for my top favourite midnight feast/breakfast of all time only to find that when I want to order it it has sold out: The Chocolate Mousse with Cherry and Granola was bloody superb! That's not to say that the Custard Apple Crunch was poor by any means - it was pretty srummy, actually.<br /><br />The Chocolate Mousse was intensely chocolatey, and the cherries were bursting with cherriness! The Granola gave the pudding a bit of interesting texture, without making the dish feel too worthy. I hate worthy food... Smacks of hair shirts and vegan sandals to me. The CMwC&amp;G is prepared with cold water, so if you're near the end of a trip and your gas is running low, this dish makes even more sense.<br /><br />There's 416 calories in the CMwC&amp;G and 447 in the Custard Apple Crunch. For a longish trip I would take a ratio of three CMwC&amp;G to one of Custard Apple Crunch.<br /><br />Buy!<br />Now!<br />But please leave some for me as I'll be ordering a fair few of these!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-22336835230885835892018-05-04T00:57:00.002+01:002018-05-06T21:04:14.739+01:00The 2018 PreWalk Daunder in the Lake District<div style="text-align: justify;">or <u>"THE KIDS AT THE BACK OF THE CLASS..."</u><br /><br />It's been an incredibly hectic few weeks here. On the Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday I joined a Motley Crew (and yes - the capitals are very important here) in the English Lake District for the twenty fourth Annual PreWalkDaunder. Then, on the Monday I started a new job. On Tuesday and Wednesday I moved Mission Control to a new location.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A week later there are twenty eight boxes boxes still to be unpacked (Trust me; that's a huge improvement on just a few days ago) but for the moment my focus is on the new job and sorting myself out for the TGO Challenge in one week's time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'll just post the pictures of the Daunder for the moment but I will return to add some scribblings when I get a little more time.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eJS-YRcrbho/WuueCI65aAI/AAAAAAAAsaM/hBHrinzZYTAeI9HPCbj6rffJA5UGqu4RQCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180419_075159136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1359" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eJS-YRcrbho/WuueCI65aAI/AAAAAAAAsaM/hBHrinzZYTAeI9HPCbj6rffJA5UGqu4RQCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20180419_075159136.jpg" width="542" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THULE ALLTRAIL 45</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><u><br /></u></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>NEW SCRIBBLINGS ADDED SUBSEQUENTLY TO THE POST</u></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u><br /></u></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was said that at Sandy Lane Infants I was an unusually bright child. However, Mr Pugsley (a WWII Spitfire pilot with a very painful, shot-up stiff leg - the Headmaster at Sandy Lane Juniors) also said, quite correctly as it turned out, that I 'would never amount to much.'&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've put the inevitable failures in my life - and Lord knows there have been a few - down to the numerous toxic amalgam fillings in my sugar-rotted teeth, that slowly but steadily destroyed any functioning brain-cells that were left after the sessions at the Bell in Northfield and the Axe &amp; Compass in Hemingford Abbots. The fillings were the result of my childhood, munching Blackjacks, penny bars of Cadburys chocolate and Sherbet Fountains. My sister Christine didn't help, spending my pocket money on pounds of greasy chocolate buttons from Bracknell Market and then throwing away the&nbsp; fat-stained paper bag remnants into the dog-rose bushes in Shepherds Lane on the way home, in preference to throwing up.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Perhaps I should enlist the services of a smart lawyer to tackle the confectioners and sue the arse off the bastards? On second thoughts, no lawyer has ever helped my cause any further than the lining of their own pockets.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But that's life.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Having experienced real life in all the kick-you-in-the-nuts-when-you're-down-and-struggling moments, it was an absolute joy to rise to the surface of this fetid soup and find there are still people out there who reward you for your inherent decency that until now had been buried under layers of life. With this blinding revelation I set off&nbsp; to the Lakes with my best-est buddies for a long weekend of walking, happy in the knowledge that someone was about to pay my bills for the few skills I had left in my depleted armoury. Life, finally, was on the up after years of stasis and the acceptance of&nbsp; semi-endurable penury.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And who better than to share in this revelation than the happy band of Daunderers selected for this year's PWD.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9c9jRiTa9Es/WuueCHKQ4AI/AAAAAAAAsaM/VO_vwnvvEZogQCbNYfk2U00Hw5KkAyQ-ACKgBGAs/s1600/1100390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="1600" height="398" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9c9jRiTa9Es/WuueCHKQ4AI/AAAAAAAAsaM/VO_vwnvvEZogQCbNYfk2U00Hw5KkAyQ-ACKgBGAs/s640/1100390.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: justify;">Let's not get carried away. After all, I'm pretty sure you could think of more worthwhile companions, but with my few remaining grey cells I could not. Phil subsequently sent out the Golden Ticket invitations to this year's Daunderers.&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Phil, or Lord Elpus as he is known in Royal Geographical circles, had arranged a route and itinerary fit for Titans, perhaps forgetting that Daunderers are slipped from common clay.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I think you'll agree that the following photos portray incredibly decent folk all having a jolly good walk in one of the world's prettiest, if not one of the smallest, playgrounds; Cumbria - the English Lake District, land of Curmudgeon-in-Chief Alf Wainwright, Eric Robson, the Lakeside YMCA and the Mountain Goat Transit van bus company who ferried me about as a lad from one over-adventurous escapade to the next for years on end.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0YDh74hbahw/WuueCCUszTI/AAAAAAAAsaM/grRcNnd8WfIn93vQ57MNHzLXj3KczGAgACKgBGAs/s1600/1100391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="965" data-original-width="1600" height="384" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0YDh74hbahw/WuueCCUszTI/AAAAAAAAsaM/grRcNnd8WfIn93vQ57MNHzLXj3KczGAgACKgBGAs/s640/1100391.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">For Cumbrian cognoscenti, the pictures will be all that is required to re-imagine our route around the Scafell Massif (for the un-initiated, that's a little like da West Staines Massif) so the usual Ordnance Survey map I provide will not be necessary.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>NB.</u> There will be more words added in the next few days, so do please return to this ink-stained Foolscap screed to learn more of my wonderful compatriots and their bizarre foibles!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4YpfDLaWkRM/WuueCCuNtuI/AAAAAAAAsaM/J0EAnGkUFesBlBAqwZNEYKxdGNTan_3WgCKgBGAs/s1600/1100392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1600" height="434" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FSqlzyaXT5Y/WuueCJYfeiI/AAAAAAAAsaM/DrcNzzjXcxMWJNIMUc3tK5FZ1xlcgUXIwCKgBGAs/s640/1100437.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7KVUInXBDj4/WuueCIyqDMI/AAAAAAAAsaM/3jDBrZgnfhADWa7mO3ZWXUKH3Fmk0hH4wCKgBGAs/s1600/1100439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1420" data-original-width="1600" height="568" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7KVUInXBDj4/WuueCIyqDMI/AAAAAAAAsaM/3jDBrZgnfhADWa7mO3ZWXUKH3Fmk0hH4wCKgBGAs/s640/1100439.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--nfpQaXnW1w/WuueCGuZ_xI/AAAAAAAAsaM/7bfdA5HiUSMcN8WOGVqOU4du2K4x2YRBgCKgBGAs/s1600/1100438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1600" height="382" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--nfpQaXnW1w/WuueCGuZ_xI/AAAAAAAAsaM/7bfdA5HiUSMcN8WOGVqOU4du2K4x2YRBgCKgBGAs/s640/1100438.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-7321080815569405412018-04-16T23:13:00.002+01:002018-04-17T15:30:08.136+01:00New Gear for the 24th Annual PreWalkDaunder?<div style="text-align: justify;">I've noticed that quite a few Challengers have been splashing out on new rucsacs for this year's TGO Challenge. I am just as guilty...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hOhlkqCGteo/WtUbV9R42QI/AAAAAAAAr9g/i5_CIbTTO2wwNBarvDAKacVy-4OXoGXtQCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180328_224312755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1182" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hOhlkqCGteo/WtUbV9R42QI/AAAAAAAAr9g/i5_CIbTTO2wwNBarvDAKacVy-4OXoGXtQCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20180328_224312755.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NlOyiNL8RO0/WtUbV4oMRUI/AAAAAAAAr9g/oW0dw-tnJY8Rr5mXZt6YOg3Pw3C-0j6jwCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180328_224451321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1256" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NlOyiNL8RO0/WtUbV4oMRUI/AAAAAAAAr9g/oW0dw-tnJY8Rr5mXZt6YOg3Pw3C-0j6jwCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20180328_224451321.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ls_EkiGcKH8/WtUbV19-z6I/AAAAAAAAr9g/GA07fZGP86E2YQ6psTkKccU4dpi2V8mXACKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180328_224645624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1338" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ls_EkiGcKH8/WtUbV19-z6I/AAAAAAAAr9g/GA07fZGP86E2YQ6psTkKccU4dpi2V8mXACKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20180328_224645624.jpg" width="534" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3DuCgQhO14/WtUbVz_w-KI/AAAAAAAAr9g/rCmrXdMB0jYlBWrEsGoQFJ1BbYCaX5r6ACKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180328_224554799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3DuCgQhO14/WtUbVz_w-KI/AAAAAAAAr9g/rCmrXdMB0jYlBWrEsGoQFJ1BbYCaX5r6ACKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20180328_224554799.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: justify;">This baby cost me the princely sum of two of Her Madge's pounds from a charity&nbsp;shop, and had it not been for another brand new rucsac arriving at Mission Control,</span><span style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;might well have been coming with me this Thursday on the twenty fourth annual PreWalkDaunder. I carried an almost identical model in the Summer of 1970 on the Pennine Way. But that one had felt lining to the straps.There's posh! It had had a fair few miles under its belt when I was loaned it by my wonderful Scout Master, William Charles Kemp. Bless Him.</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1970 was the summer of Mungo Jerry and 'In the Summertime', being buzzed by a pair of Avro Vulcans barely a hundred feet above our heads, (my legs gave way completely!) and us lads feeding Horlicks tablets to wild fell ponies, who amazingly came back for more!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Quite a while ago I wrote to Bergans with the photographs and Unique ID stamped inside the sack to ask if they could let me know when this chap was made. Sadly, they did not reply.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the spirit of Old Mortality:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wvUQcnfwUUM" width="640"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><b>Postscript</b>: I see now where Mad'n'Bad found the inspiration for his TGO Challenge string vest...</div>Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-33384665393546150972018-04-08T18:41:00.000+01:002018-04-08T18:42:11.805+01:00Forthcoming Attractions!<br /><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cxU6LT6DonE" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">In a dramatic, yet temporary shift of emphasis, this blog will shortly feature some rare Gear Reviews! (Capital letters employed for added drama...)</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cVm5rDNQIhU/WspQS1Yr52I/AAAAAAAAr3s/JuRAWP0vtwgyQB0MknjMr8ZKFzD404lywCKgBGAs/s1600/pixlr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cVm5rDNQIhU/WspQS1Yr52I/AAAAAAAAr3s/JuRAWP0vtwgyQB0MknjMr8ZKFzD404lywCKgBGAs/s640/pixlr.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NEW KIT!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Look. There are people out there who are addicted to this sort of thing. Admit it, you are too, aren't you, on the odd occasion? But it's okay; you can handle it. Alright, just this once then...&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-50486380626625895472018-04-07T20:44:00.001+01:002018-04-07T20:44:44.022+01:00A Change is Gonna Come<br />Things are definitely on the up, here at Mission Control. It's been an interesting ten years.<br /><br /><br /><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S5Lwy3nVg1I" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z8SSmDFk454" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cmpRLQZkTb8" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1omvWb9Is4U" width="640"></iframe>Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-32968488783653093382018-03-11T01:14:00.000+00:002018-03-11T10:33:35.486+00:00A little behind and the TGO Challenge 2018<div style="text-align: justify;">Let's start this post with an aside. Unusual, I know, but let's live on the edge.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Look, I know the title of this piece is grammatical grunge (..the The Great Outdoors Challenge...) but omitting the 'the' just makes it look plain daft. You can complain all you like in the comments section. I won't read it. Ah. But there's the thing. I will, and every barbed sentence will slice away my already bludgeoned confidence blow by tiny blow.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Walkers, or perhaps it's just this blog's readers, have a high proportion of fastidiousness when it comes to written English amongst their number. With my complete lack of education in all things grammatical at my Comprehensive school in the sixties and seventies, this should make reading the scribblings in this place an exquisite torture. Think of this as my way of proving those right-on metropolitan elite tossers who promoted this ghastly system (whilst sending their own offspring to Grammar and public schools) to be deluded virtue-signalling fools.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hmm. That 'aside' took up two lengthy paragraphs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Right then! (Is that better than starting a sentence with 'So.'? Or 'Look'? To the meat of this evening's post. Just under a year ago I wrote of my regime for Challenge Fitness, in the post <a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/tgo-challenge-2017-getting-organised.html" target="_blank">Getting Organised: Limbering up.</a>&nbsp;which told of the benefits of walking just three miles a day, starting on New Years Day and continuing until setting off on the TGO Challenge</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-86AYXp1IeUs/WqR216NL6yI/AAAAAAAArNY/_0uVq9R_DOcQK-g4x7ecJ3fY_ajn_4MCwCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180308_172220828_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-86AYXp1IeUs/WqR216NL6yI/AAAAAAAArNY/_0uVq9R_DOcQK-g4x7ecJ3fY_ajn_4MCwCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20180308_172220828_HDR.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HEREFORD SKY-SCRAPERS: RIGHT CLICK TO ENLARGE IN A NEW TAB</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This evening I tested the ageing brain-cell by performing a little arithmetic and came up with a disappointing result. (Christ! This blog is a bit negative tonight!) I've often been described as a Huge Arse, but it transpires that I am in fact a Little Behind.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This chart should provide some help with an explanation:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fjOmZEPS1fw/WqR59DHxKEI/AAAAAAAArNk/1y9930nOey0zEcwd7WzxVbSyQnBtFqEDgCKgBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2018-03-10%2B21.43.04.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1267" height="340" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fjOmZEPS1fw/WqR59DHxKEI/AAAAAAAArNk/1y9930nOey0zEcwd7WzxVbSyQnBtFqEDgCKgBGAs/s640/Screenshot%2B2018-03-10%2B21.43.04.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YOU WILL DEFINITELY NEED TO RIGHT-CLICK THIS TO ENLARGE IN A NEW TAB</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The straight-as-an-arrow red line is the cumulative progress of three miles a day: The target.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The dark brown line is last year's walking, recorded in weekly chunks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The pale brown line is this year's walking, to date.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last year's exertions started in a moderately sedate fashion, up until Week Eight, when there was a either a burst of enthusiasm, or more probably increasing guilt at falling well-short of the set target. You will perhaps be surprised to learn then, that this year there was also a similar spate of guilt about this place at more-or-less exactly the same point in the year, but that there has been no corresponding acceleration.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of&nbsp; course, I could put it down to crappy cold northerlies followed by the 'Beast from the East.' <i>Note to self in the future, when re-reading this drivel: The Beast from the East: Google it, as you will have forgotten what on earth that was. Who made up this ridiculous name?</i>&nbsp;It was far more likely to be simple lethargy, with an added twist of sloth and slobbery.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Because of the prevailing ground conditions on my muddy Northern Patch, most walks have been to the sandy delights of the Eastern Provinces. The earlier picture in this piece was of the fine trees there, taken yesterday evening.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So! Right then! Look you, Boyo! Things had better improve, sharpish. That graph deserves better results than the meagre efforts so dismally displayed so far this year.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And for those of you who were expecting a picture of a little behind, you'll just have to dig around on the internet. I'm sure you won't need any instructions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vb8C9fk4mIY" width="640"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As you were. Stand Easy.</div>Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-78286567268167098082018-02-22T00:24:00.002+00:002018-02-25T23:54:19.543+00:00New Fetteresso Wind Farm on the cards... This is a holding post for the new Fetteresso wind power station. It will be lengthened in scope when I have time.<br /><br />Here are the salient points.<br /><br /><ul><li>The turbines are huge</li><li>It is simply an extension of the existing Mid Hill power station to the south and east.</li><li>Fred Olsen is extending the Mid Hill power station from 25 to 35 wind turbines.</li><li>The land is owned by the state, and run by Forestry Commission Scotland.&nbsp;</li><li>Because of its size (50MW) there will be no local enquiry: it will be decided by the minister</li><li>In effect, it's a dead cert.</li></ul><br /><br /><b style="text-decoration-line: underline;">NB:</b>&nbsp;The new turbines are to be between 150m and 200m high. These will be the largest turbines (so far) ever seen on land in the UK. They will <b>all</b> be visible from over 25 miles away to the west.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r5iRAEsgNzs/Wo4KQ7EU2NI/AAAAAAAAqvg/zU8klw5gPdUNapRhvJpHbq09RTMCJoxrwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2018-02-21%2B23.30.43.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1258" height="438" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r5iRAEsgNzs/Wo4KQ7EU2NI/AAAAAAAAqvg/zU8klw5gPdUNapRhvJpHbq09RTMCJoxrwCLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot%2B2018-02-21%2B23.30.43.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SITE LAYOUT: RIGHT CLICK TO ENLARGE IN A NEW TAB</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-scjyP7B80tU/Wo4KjD3sgdI/AAAAAAAAqvk/CguxxZpBEUgX6Nll4sdAUTdEtbXh-gO_wCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2018-02-21%2B23.34.53.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="1232" height="454" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-scjyP7B80tU/Wo4KjD3sgdI/AAAAAAAAqvk/CguxxZpBEUgX6Nll4sdAUTdEtbXh-gO_wCLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot%2B2018-02-21%2B23.34.53.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ZTV MAP - RIGHT CLICK TO ENLARGE IN NEW TAB</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Many thank to HMP3 for the next image, which shows the quite shocking size of a 200m wind turbine.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QyWN4v-NHwE/Wo9YYm-lQ7I/AAAAAAAAqww/3RgA7tf4az0Gfud58ryERQ2GE6jHCZ2vQCLcBGAs/s1600/Turbine01%255B42554%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QyWN4v-NHwE/Wo9YYm-lQ7I/AAAAAAAAqww/3RgA7tf4az0Gfud58ryERQ2GE6jHCZ2vQCLcBGAs/s640/Turbine01%255B42554%255D.jpg" width="562" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SIZE COMPARISON OF WELL-KNOWN BIG THINGS TO A 200M TURBINE AND A TGO CHALLENGER</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now,&nbsp; you may well be thinking - That's Big! But it's only when you look at the swept area of the blades that it really hits home how *massive* a 200m high turbine actually is: The image below shows the pitch at Wembley Stadium tilted vertically compared to the area swept by the blades. The swept area is getting on for double the area of the Wembley Stadium Football pitch. That really is colossal!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hepEUn5Etz4/WpF4pKRrThI/AAAAAAAAqzE/Vtt2-GubWpQgBfBb1VfucDu84PzPiFkNgCLcBGAs/s1600/Turbine02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="660" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hepEUn5Etz4/WpF4pKRrThI/AAAAAAAAqzE/Vtt2-GubWpQgBfBb1VfucDu84PzPiFkNgCLcBGAs/s640/Turbine02.jpg" width="490" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THIS IS THE SIZE OF THE PROPOSED BEASTS!&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />More later, when I get some time.Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-85502482492290926222018-02-18T01:51:00.000+00:002018-02-18T18:22:17.182+00:00Scottish Highland Estates, greed & the loss of wild land<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2TL_kNCPK6A/VkIYLgwh3tI/AAAAAAAAQCo/Xe6I83L8oXY/s1600/IMG_3453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="1600" height="348" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2TL_kNCPK6A/VkIYLgwh3tI/AAAAAAAAQCo/Xe6I83L8oXY/s640/IMG_3453.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">INTENSIVE MUIR BURN ON A GROUSE SHOOTING ESTATE [RIGHT CLICK TO ENLARGE IN A NEW TAB]</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: justify;">Regular visitors to this place will have read the piece posted on here a couple of days ago: </span><a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/scottish-highland-hydro-scheme-mapping.html" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Scottish Highland Hydro Scheme Mapping</a><span style="text-align: justify;">. I provided a link to it on the TGO Challenge Message Board, as these schemes have a direct impact on Challengers who walk across Scotland, particularly so as the majority of these schemes have not yet made it onto Ordnance Survey Maps.</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's a screen grab of that post on the Message Board, and the first reply from a chap who will be taking part in the Challenge for the first time this year.&nbsp;</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4PFxq-T1LHo/WoieAEX72UI/AAAAAAAAqro/u7xDNKjvmlE7gIm6aSydPOZHgZe2Wm8swCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2018-02-17%2B21.22.33.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="601" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4PFxq-T1LHo/WoieAEX72UI/AAAAAAAAqro/u7xDNKjvmlE7gIm6aSydPOZHgZe2Wm8swCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2018-02-17%2B21.22.33.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RIGHT-CLICK TO ENLARGE IN A NEW TAB</td></tr></tbody></table><br />For those of you with small screens, I'll reproduce Paul's comment at a larger size below:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OD0gtvYSrSY/WoijR4x2BqI/AAAAAAAAqr8/m25aaLp2sB44RikaXe5caAgSn9GyqaUhQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2018-02-17%2B21.44.55.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="770" height="344" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OD0gtvYSrSY/WoijR4x2BqI/AAAAAAAAqr8/m25aaLp2sB44RikaXe5caAgSn9GyqaUhQCLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot%2B2018-02-17%2B21.44.55.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I've met Paul and I found him to be an intelligent and likeable bloke. I'm sure quite a few other very decent hill walkers will share his view, which is why I'm giving space to it as a separate piece, away from the narrower issue of Small Hydro schemes.<br /><br />As regular readers will know I am particularly keen to promote the TGO Challenge, especially to first-timers as they are the life blood of the walk. (Mortality is a statistician's delight as without exception everyone dies and the more Challenges you do, the closer you are to meeting your maker.) If we want the TGO Challenge to continue, then fresh blood is vital.<br /><br />I've walked across Scotland for over twenty years and over that time have seen a dramatic drop in the wild places. The predominant reason for this being the remorseless spread of wind farms (with the associated tracks and electricity pylons) a massive rise in hill roads for the grouse shooting industry and considerable changes, especially in the eastern Highlands in vegetation as muir-burn has become the predominant landscape. Recently Small Hydro (predominantly run of the river schemes) have&nbsp; spread like a rash throughout the wild places.<br /><br />Elsewhere on this blog I have written extensively about my despondency of walking through more and more damaged landscapes on the Challenge. (Just click on "Wind Power stations" under the 'Label' heading on the RH column of this blog) As I promote the Challenge a great deal, I think it is time to accentuate what is fabulous about walking across the Highlands and some of the positive changes that are being made by enlightened estate management.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>*****</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As I understand it, Paul is making two points; The first is that Highland Estate owners have to make a living from their land and the choices are from either small hydro scheme subsidies, wind farm rental, commercial forestry or grouse shooting. His second (supporting) point is that he's all in favour of killing mountain hares to preserve the grouse shooting industry, which in his opinion preserves the land from commercial forestry, as he would prefer to see shooting instead of forestry or wind farms.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He suggests that it is not helpful for me to rail against small hydro, grouse shooting and wind farms, as that leaves only forestry and he would not like to see that marching across the hillsides. In his view trying to limit wind farms, small hydro, grouse shooting and forestry (which I don't believe I have ever mentioned) will lead to the depopulation of the Highlands.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At first pass it might seem that Paul is making a fair point. Indeed, these are the points that Scottish Land &amp; Estates - the representative body of the majority of Estate owners - trot out at regular intervals to support grouse shooting, industrial scale wind farms, hydro schemes and commercial forestry across Scotland. After all, these Estates provide a living for a fair few estate workers across the country.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Let's look at Paul's second, supporting point to start with, as it bolsters the main thrust of his comment.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The points about livelihoods and killing hares (regarding grouse shooting) are made well in the recent BBC Countryfile television programme that Paul made mention of on the TGO Message Board, before he deleted the comment. The programme examines the mass shooting of mountain hares (a native species) to protect the grouse shooting industry. However, the same could also be said of the points made by Harry Huyton of OneKind against the shooting of Mountain Hares. Take a look at the programme&nbsp; yourself: It's about a ten minute watch. You can see the programme on the BBC iPlayer for the next 16 days by clicking on the following link:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09qm0fk/countryfile-perth-and-kinross" target="_blank">COUNTRYFILE: 28TH JAN 2018&nbsp;</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">NB: Rather than watch the entire programme, the relevant sections are from 7:00 to 14:00 and 30:30 to 36:10</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Harry Huyton's subsequent take on the programme can be found here: <a href="https://www.onekind.scot/three-reflections-on-countryfiles-mountain-hare-culls-feature/" target="_blank">Three reflections on Countryfile's mountain hare culls feature</a>&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For a detailed look at hare culls you might like to view this document:&nbsp;<a href="https://raptorpersecutionscotland.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/mountain-hares-persecution-report-onekind-2017.pdf" target="_blank">Mountain hare persecution in Scotland</a>&nbsp;After reading that, I think you'll agree that Paul's position on culling mountain hares looks pretty shabby.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*****</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now let's take a look at Paul's first, main point: Scottish Estate owners have to make a living, and it's going to come from either grouse shooting, rental income from wind farms, commercial forestry or small hydro.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course, this is a straw man argument. Those are a carefully selected sample of possible income streams for Highland Estates. As it happens, they are the income streams that some find unacceptable in the modern world and so we are given a choice by the estates (and Paul) to choose those we find least unpalatable from their selection.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On the morning of the day I posted the link to my piece on Small Hydro Mapping on the Challenge Message Board I had also posted a piece that Chris Townsend had mentioned on twitter - an inspirational piece from the Scottish Wildlife Trust's website written by the Estate owner, Lisbet Rausing, detailing the work that Corrour Estate has been doing over the last ten years or so and the plans it has for the next ten. You can find that piece by clicking on this link:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/2018/02/corrourestate/" target="_blank">LEADING THE CHARGE AT CORROUR ESTATE</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tMFM--dOomc/WojKr5YsM1I/AAAAAAAAqsM/pYu2lhJcRP0r7VXF6lRs6IQ3SyiUsryCwCLcBGAs/s1600/20170729_151721-1600x1200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tMFM--dOomc/WojKr5YsM1I/AAAAAAAAqsM/pYu2lhJcRP0r7VXF6lRs6IQ3SyiUsryCwCLcBGAs/s640/20170729_151721-1600x1200.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOCH OSSIAN AT THE HEART OF CORROUR ESTATE @&nbsp;JONNY HUGHES</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I really would like you to read this piece so that we can understand each other as we move forward. So sit up straight at the back of the class and take a few moments to read it please.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thank you.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And, you're back in the room! Hello again. That was a great read. You're jolly glad you took some time over it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You will have seen that the stewardship of Corrour Estate has shifted fundamentally from an extractive model to a stewardship model. The entire ecosystem - flora and fauna - is recovering from over a century of appalling abuse. It appears from this shining example (and others mentioned in the piece) that Highland Estates&nbsp;<b><i>can</i></b>&nbsp;make a living without wind farms, grouse shooting and forestry. The Estate now washes its face economically by generating income from tourism attracted to the place by the transformation of the landscape and wildlife.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Who knew?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tourism is a *major* business in the Highland economy. Visit Scotland estimated that 1,88 million people from the rest of the UK and 0.4 million people from overseas visited the Highlands in 2012/13. These visitors spent a combined total of £509 million.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, you will have spotted that Corrour *does* include four small hydro projects as part of its income stream - a fairly big disappointment.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*****</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This brings me rather neatly to another reason for disagreeing with Paul's comment.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you or I were to buy our first home, we would know that along with the mortgage and rates that we would have to pay, we would also be faced with a raft of additional costs. Every once in a while all the exterior woodwork would need painting. The decorations inside the place would need keeping in order. Plumbing problems, heating bills, electricity bills, they all need to be sorted.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Moving on to your next, larger house, all those costs increase, and so on to an even more expensive house, with a large garden, fences to maintain, you'll need a larger lawnmower. You can already see where this is going, can't you?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Those fortunate enough to be in a position to buy a Scottish Estate know full well what they are buying. They are buying a whole heap of ongoing outgoings that to you or me would seem eye-watering! Of course, they would try to mitigate these costs by having an income from the Estate. And that is exactly what Lisbet Rausing is doing at Corrour.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But let's not kid ourselves; these Estate owners are incredibly wealthy individuals, from all corners of the world as well as the UK. And let's be brutally honest. They can afford to run an Estate, even when it makes a loss. Their accountants will have told them how much it was going to lose year on year before they bought the place and that was part of the purchase decision, just as I knew full-well when I bought a sixteenth century listed cottage with wattle and daub exterior walls that it was going to be eye-wateringly expensive to heat. There's not a scrap of difference between the two purchases.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">*****</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Going back to Paul's comment: He says <i><b>"...what would you like them to use the land for? It has to be used for something..."</b></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I really do have a big problem with that statement alone. I would be quite happy to sit here for a few days debating just that one question and answer. You see, Paul is looking at land as a commodity, or a vehicle to provide an income.&nbsp; He's not looking at land as something that just by being there provides huge pleasure to those who live amongst it and those who travel through it. These people are not monetising land. I could quote John Muir verbatim about land and wild places. You'll have heard it all before.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, the land that these Estates have parcelled up between themselves doesn't care who owns it, or who walks though it. It is just there and that is why we hill-walkers go there ourselves. It is for freedom from the daily grind. It's to reduce stress. It's to be like my friend Mick, who I wrote about only this week, <a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/book-yourself-into-soul-asylum-go-for.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And we should not forget, that is the main reason the Estate owners bought the place at the very outset. Because to live there would be to fulfil their dream of living in one of the finest places on the planet.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">*****</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So let's not hear any more about monetising Highland Estates. It's not about the money. It's not about choosing between one, two or three or even four methods of abusing wild land. Those choices are strawmen arguments put up by those who enjoy shooting birds for fun. This argument is put up by those who want to rake in extra money by letting out their land for commercial forestry, or wind farms or building small hydro schemes - each of which is designed, built and paid for by other commercial enterprises.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So Paul, let's not hear anymore about the further depopulation of the Highlands; Corrour has shown that to be complete nonsense.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Let's instead encourage landowners to take a lead from Lisbet Rausing and the incredible work she is doing at Corrour transforming the place from an extractive business model to a stewardship model. And really, Lisbet, there was no need for you to build those small hydro schemes at all. You can afford to live there without them.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*****</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Footnote:</u> Wise and venerable readers of this blog will have noticed that in this entire screed, written all in one mad rush, there is no political message. I haven't mentioned the SNP once, because there's no need to. Greed is the same the world over.</div>Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-48866544723034891542018-02-15T22:14:00.000+00:002018-02-15T22:14:41.196+00:00Scottish Highland Hydro Scheme Mapping<div style="text-align: justify;">Reading TGO Challengers' accounts of last year's walk across Scotland I was struck by how many Challengers encountered run of the river small hydro schemes, often in places that would otherwise have been described as having a feel of wilderness. To a man, they felt these places had been desecrated</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was aware of the existence of small hydro schemes in the Scottish Highlands as Phil, Andy &amp; I had walked past a few on our Challenge in 2014 prior to our TGO Challenge in 2017. Here's one on the north shore of Loch Quoich. This particular building houses turbines that have a plated capacity of 775kw. (For a recognisable comparison most modern land based wind turbines have a capacity of about four times that amount.) That does not mean it produces 775kw; it's the maximum it can produce. Like wind turbines, run of the river schemes like these are weather dependent. If it doesn't rain for a while the water levels will drop and the power output will be a small fraction of the plated capacity. In a very dry spell it will produce nothing at all.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This means that a lot of work goes in to providing very little power - and variable power at that. These schemes attract heavy renewables subsidies (paid for by you and me in our electricity bills) to make them economic to the developers. Let's be very clear here: They would not be built without these heavy subsidies.</div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-70nKRiz7ZyA/WoXRkD2pkxI/AAAAAAAAqqs/zNmk5USKx-0RB-bBR98XpdpRTG_rmpd2ACKgBGAs/s1600/P1040618%255B6%255D" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-70nKRiz7ZyA/WoXRkD2pkxI/AAAAAAAAqqs/zNmk5USKx-0RB-bBR98XpdpRTG_rmpd2ACKgBGAs/s640/P1040618%255B6%255D" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">775KW CAPACITY HYDRO SCHEME, LOCH QUOICH</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The photograph below shows that VeryVeryNiceMan Mr Williams posing by an access road to the Taodail Small Hydro scheme near Strathcarron - a hour into our walk into the wild places on last year's TGO Challenge.</div><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yEENk_8Aa_U/WWfZOokJo-I/AAAAAAAAkpw/MQHBCam0WMM5fYIZKFaVkB8NPlP3linVwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/1090265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yEENk_8Aa_U/WWfZOokJo-I/AAAAAAAAkpw/MQHBCam0WMM5fYIZKFaVkB8NPlP3linVwCPcBGAYYCw/s640/1090265.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TAODAIL HYDRO SCHEME ROAD, STRATHCARRON</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">This was my take on the two schemes we bumped into that year. We were not impressed.&nbsp;<span style="text-align: center;">Neither of the roads we saw had made it onto O.S. mapping so they were an unpleasant surprise.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><ul><li><i style="font-size: 14.3px;">Surprisingly, we catch up with Croydon, Paddy &amp; Gillian on one of those new Hydro Scheme roads that are currently being blazed throughout the length and breadth of the Highlands, destroying yet more of the wild quality that has been such a magnet for so many years. After a bit of a dither where the new road has obliterated the old stalkers path, we clamber up the side of the cutting and carry on our way, deeper and higher into the hill.&nbsp;</i></li></ul><div><i><br /></i></div></div></div><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iFq8pFtyy1Y/WoW85gJnOTI/AAAAAAAAqp0/eC_YmYCYSZg7rEw4KdSq9Q8mqZqnn3ZxACLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2018-02-15%2B16.46.20.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="1600" height="318" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iFq8pFtyy1Y/WoW85gJnOTI/AAAAAAAAqp0/eC_YmYCYSZg7rEw4KdSq9Q8mqZqnn3ZxACLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot%2B2018-02-15%2B16.46.20.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SCREENSHOT OF HIGHLAND HYDRO SCHEME MAPPING [CLICK TO ENLARGE]</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">The above map is a screen shot of the Highland Council's map that shows all the hydro schemes that have been either been built, or are under construction, or in planning and also those that have been refused planning in the Highland Council planning area.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">If you right click on that map and open it at a much larger size in a new tab you will find the Taodail Hydro project. On the actual Highland Council map, if you were to click on the Taodail little yellow dot the screen shown below appears:</span></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IeMzdCaOsFY/WoW_RaB-Z2I/AAAAAAAAqqM/NTqKHqxPuVgzD16b0EjkQz7RaSnK36_GACLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2018-02-15%2B17.09.45.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="1600" height="314" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IeMzdCaOsFY/WoW_RaB-Z2I/AAAAAAAAqqM/NTqKHqxPuVgzD16b0EjkQz7RaSnK36_GACLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot%2B2018-02-15%2B17.09.45.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TAODAIL HYDRO SCHEME [CLICK TO ENLARGE]</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="text-align: justify;">You'll note that the dot is coloured yellow as at the time of the map's preparation (Jan 2017) the project was under construction. When we discovered it in May 2017 it looked virtually complete. You can get rid of the information tab to reveal all the mapped features of the scheme. See below:</span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-baFmsPDBPqw/WoW-Zu0FTGI/AAAAAAAAqqE/E513G4Tz_Dg3fa0sH35mZ77gvL46_7c0ACLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2018-02-15%2B17.04.28.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="783" data-original-width="1600" height="312" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-baFmsPDBPqw/WoW-Zu0FTGI/AAAAAAAAqqE/E513G4Tz_Dg3fa0sH35mZ77gvL46_7c0ACLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot%2B2018-02-15%2B17.04.28.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TAG REMOVED TO SEE MORE CLEARLY [CLICK TO ENLARGE]</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's my take on the second run of the river hydro scheme we bumped into on our way over from Glen Orrin to Glen Strathfarrar, one of the most beautiful glens in the Scottish Highlands:</div><br /><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><ul><li><i style="font-size: 14.3px;">Pleased as punch we positively gambol down the other side on nibbled turf. The first quarter of an hour is fabulous,&nbsp;following&nbsp;a&nbsp;bubbly caochan downhill until it becomes the Neaty Burn proper. Then it all goes to rat-shit for a while with stumbly heavy heather, awkward clambers up and over the burn bluffs. It's still cold and showers are now coming at us from the west down Glen Strathfarrar. It's all quite knackering.&nbsp;</i></li></ul></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><ul><li><i style="font-size: 14.3px;">And then we see a big new road, dead ahead, following the burn downhill.&nbsp;</i></li></ul></div><div><ul><li><i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.3px;">Of course, it's yet another Mini Hydro Power scheme. The actual works themselves are not wildly intrusive, tucked away at the bottom of the little gorges that they are placed within but the roads that enable the schemes to be built and maintained are horribly so. And they're appearing all over the Highlands because there are massive subsidies to be farmed by the already wealthy landowners. The amount of power they produce is minuscule&nbsp;and all at a terrible cost to wild land.</span></span></i></li></ul></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G9sxiPkn8PE/WXhs7iQzXwI/AAAAAAAAkyU/bks2BMBmDwE-gLnbYYqb62cI4ycU9Av-ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/1090382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G9sxiPkn8PE/WXhs7iQzXwI/AAAAAAAAkyU/bks2BMBmDwE-gLnbYYqb62cI4ycU9Av-ACPcBGAYYCw/s640/1090382.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NEATY BURN HYDRO SCHEME</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><br /></i><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><ul><li><i style="font-size: 14.3px;">The old stalkers path down the Neaty Burn has been obliterated by the new road and so we plod somewhat disconsolately down the dirt road wide enough for two trucks to pass each other. The old path chose a line with gentle gradients. This new road dives straight down the hill which is tough on my dodgy left knee. All the wild qualities of this old route have now gone. We're now on a road, heading down to the new housing for the generators - a modern pitched roof construction, not unlike a large house in appearance, surrounded by a large concrete apron and heavy river pebbles.</i></li><li><i style="font-size: 14.3px;">We sit against the wall for a little shelter from the rain and it's all rather depressing. Dear God. What were they thinking of? They've already screwed huge swathes of Scotland with bloody wind farms and now they're destroying havens of sylvan bliss with houses, concrete and roads. All in the name (and only the name) of supposedly 'green' policies. Had these idiots actually done the maths they would realise they are pissing in the wind and their tokenism is fucking Scotland to the hilt.&nbsp;</i></li></ul></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><ul><li><i style="font-size: 14.3px;">Bastards.</i></li></ul></div><br />The next map is the detail gleaned from the Highland Council mapping. This scheme, which has totally destroyed the wild feel of this wonderful place produces a paltry 700kw (plated, remember, so a great deal less on average, and intermittent) of electricity at a massive cost to the environment.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ikE1PM3vaBg/WoXERAFCGyI/AAAAAAAAqqc/1NGgDf0o4Qg8MAa_m-PpPeiGfj-JpiAZACLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2018-02-15%2B17.30.32.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="1600" height="315" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ikE1PM3vaBg/WoXERAFCGyI/AAAAAAAAqqc/1NGgDf0o4Qg8MAa_m-PpPeiGfj-JpiAZACLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot%2B2018-02-15%2B17.30.32.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ZOOMED VIEW WITH DETAILS OF THE 700KW NEATY BURN HYDRO SCHEME [CLICK TO ENLARGE]</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="text-align: justify;">With this mapping from Highland Council it is now possible to plot these Hydro Schemes on your own maps (a lot of Challengers print out their maps) so that you know when out on the hill where they are and can choose to avoid them.</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Highland Council maps can be found by clicking on the link below.&nbsp; Have a play with them. Blow them up. I believe you'l be very surprised at just how many of these schemes there are and the crass insensitivity of their locations.</div><br /><a href="http://highland.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=fae522b61be440cba1edb1aba9b226f4" target="_blank">Scottish Highland Hydro Scheme Mapping</a><br /><br />Comments are welcome:Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-57951033868264201912018-02-13T23:14:00.000+00:002018-02-14T10:28:15.390+00:00Political Compass: Six years on.<div style="text-align: justify;">Six years ago, almost to the day, I wrote a post about the Political Compass test. It spawned a huge, light-hearted discussion in the comments thread, that nowadays is a joy to read. I believe that political discussion has becom<span style="font-family: inherit;">e woef</span>ully polarised these days due to the in-built distortions caused by the algorithms used by Facebook and twitter.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You can find the post by clicking the following link:&nbsp;<a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/political-compass.html" target="_blank">POLITICAL COMPASS</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's well worth a read just for the comment section (102 comments!) But for the idle buggers who frequent this place, I've cut and pasted the piece below:</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">***</span></div><br /><h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1em; min-height: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="background-color: transparent; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: inherit; padding: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">THURSDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2012</span></i></span></h2><div class="date-posts" style="background-color: white;"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry" style="margin: 0px 0px 25px; min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #990000;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="7289050670653140340"></a></span></i><br /><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 26px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">Political Compass</span></i></h3><div class="post-header" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 11.7px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7289050670653140340" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 650px;"><div align="justify" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">Over the years I have seen my political views slide slowly to the right. At school I was definitely “left wing” and since then, passing through university, working for someone else and then working for myself I have found my sympathies laying more and more to the right of centre.</span></i></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></i></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">But it’s not as easy as that. There are some current Conservative policies that I am diametrically opposed to: Planning “reform”, NHS “reforms” nuclear weapons… i could go on. However I still saw myself as to the right of centre.</span></i></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></i></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">The other evening Chris Townsend &amp; I were having one of our regular fun ding-dongs on politics (always in good humour, it should be said!) and he introduced me to a questionnaire that I hadn’t seen before, that dug deeper than left or right and also examined your views on authority and libertarianism.</span></i></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">It was quite late at night when I bundled my way through it at breakneck speed and i was quite surprised at the result. It turned out that I was in fact a bit of a lefty libertarian!</span></i></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></i></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">This evening I went back to the questionnaire to have another go – less tired and taking more time over my answers. The results were surprisingly similar – but this time it found me bang in the middle in the left / right sense but still a bit of a libertarian.</span></i></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></i></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">Here are the graphic representations of the results:</span></i></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><a href="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-pntZQ6mqaWk/TzQ_C4HXZyI/AAAAAAAAI8I/S4hEIxAPN6A/s1600-h/Political%252520Compass%2525207th%252520Feb%2525202012%25255B8%25255D.jpg" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="Political Compass 7th Feb 2012" border="0" height="400" src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-HWTFkZMwtOI/TzQ_EwW58II/AAAAAAAAI8Q/L_9DufX5UdI/Political%252520Compass%2525207th%252520Feb%2525202012_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; display: inline; padding: 0px 0px 5px; position: relative;" title="Political Compass 7th Feb 2012" width="360" /></span></i></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">(7th Feb, Late at night, done quickly)</span></i></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;"><a href="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-yOqS2TRbNiY/TzQ_Zrf0sqI/AAAAAAAAI8Y/_imzudFhAcA/s1600-h/Politica%252520Compass%2525209th%252520Feb%2525202012%25255B7%25255D.jpg" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="Political Compass 9th Feb 2012" border="0" height="400" src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-Rr3JhyUr2i4/TzQ_bTn_gEI/AAAAAAAAI8g/ZTBxlRubRg0/Politica%252520Compass%2525209th%252520Feb%2525202012_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; display: inline; padding: 0px 0px 5px; position: relative;" title="Political Compass 9th Feb 2012" width="367" /></a>&nbsp;</span></i></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">(9th Feb, Completed with care)</span></i></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">So how does this compare with some better known in political circles? here you go:</span></i></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><a href="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-XOuqMzE9jCY/TzQ_cLWYj1I/AAAAAAAAI8o/SbyP3GCQRhg/s1600-h/Political%252520Compass%252520Compatriots%25255B7%25255D.jpg" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="Political Compass Compatriots" border="0" height="338" src="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-H2jfbQsYvkw/TzQ_dFWS14I/AAAAAAAAI8w/YVlGf1qaxO4/Political%252520Compass%252520Compatriots_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; display: inline; padding: 0px 0px 5px; position: relative;" title="Political Compass Compatriots" width="400" /></span></i></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">And:</span></i></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><a href="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-a0d6Z4-HFWs/TzQ_eAymYQI/AAAAAAAAI84/PxV_hpxtJfY/s1600-h/Political%252520Compass%252520Compatriots%2525202%25255B6%25255D.jpg" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #990000;"><img alt="Political Compass Compatriots 2" border="0" height="357" src="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-kvHeyIcrhM8/TzQ_f1k7d8I/AAAAAAAAI9A/z1kWpvxPOdA/Political%252520Compass%252520Compatriots%2525202_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; display: inline; padding: 0px 0px 5px; position: relative;" title="Political Compass Compatriots 2" width="400" /></span></i></a></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">So there you have it! You can have a go for yourselves by clicking on this link:</span></i></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;"><a href="http://www.politicalcompass.org/test" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">POLITICAL COMPASS QUESTIONNAIRE</a>&nbsp;</span></i></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></i></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">You don’t have to let me know the results, but secretly I would love to know! The one big surprise was to find myself politically well to the left of Gordon Brown… I am not quite sure how that works…</span></i></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><i><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">***</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot;; text-align: justify;">Reading that brought back happy memories and also the realisation that my views on two of the topics had changed radically - nuclear weapons and the reform of the NHS. 'Blimey', I thought to myself. 'Perhaps I'm slewing to the right in my old age?'</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot;; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot;; text-align: justify;">Full of trepidation I set to, and had another bash at the test. Here's my latest result:</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FIsK-TyzOXk/WoNmsqeJJ-I/AAAAAAAAqnM/hYKUXUvJRcstjuuLmQ-4lVvHDiwR_V0vACLcBGAs/s1600/Political%2BCompass%2B13%2BFeb%2B2018.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="509" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FIsK-TyzOXk/WoNmsqeJJ-I/AAAAAAAAqnM/hYKUXUvJRcstjuuLmQ-4lVvHDiwR_V0vACLcBGAs/s400/Political%2BCompass%2B13%2BFeb%2B2018.png" width="393" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">13TH FEBRUARY 2018</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Phew! I'm now ever so slightly more to the left than I was six years ago, and slightly more Libertarian in outlook. I could well be the love-child of the Dalai Lama and Angela Merkel. Hold that thought...<br /><br />However, this means I can relax, as I am still a happy, fluffy, cuddly type of chap and not a frothing Nazi. But I wonder. How will I turn out in another six years' time, in 2024? I must set a reminder in my Google Calendar.<br /><br />Right then! Now it's your turn. How will you get on compared to six years ago?<br /><br /><ul><li>Will Chris Townsend make for a happy bedfellow with Mrs Merkel?</li><li>Will the Dalai Lama, Ghandi and Nelson Mandela need to buy bigger beds?</li><li>Has the CIA been tapping anyone's phone calls? (You'll need to read the 2012 comments)</li></ul>Here's the link again for you all to try:<br /><a href="https://www.politicalcompass.org/test" target="_blank">POLITICAL COMPASS QUESTIONNAIRE</a><br /><br />Answers, please in the comments section. Thank you in anticipation!&nbsp;</div></div></div></div></div>Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-70569562699377495652018-02-11T22:49:00.001+00:002018-02-12T09:24:35.607+00:00Book yourself into the soul asylum. Go for a walk.<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A week </span>doesn't<span style="font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;go by without the media telling us that we are fat. We fill our faces with pizza, greasy burgers and ice cream. Our kids don't play out anymore. We spend less time talking face to face than ever before. We're couch potatoes.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It does not come as a surprise then that depression is now at epidemic proportions.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rvE7q_d_HfM/Wn9hvYmZmzI/AAAAAAAAqjw/Ydl_YvaOSaQ4GB_za95c4yheEdVoZHakgCLcBGAs/s1600/The%2BJoker%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="1328" height="386" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rvE7q_d_HfM/Wn9hvYmZmzI/AAAAAAAAqjw/Ydl_YvaOSaQ4GB_za95c4yheEdVoZHakgCLcBGAs/s640/The%2BJoker%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">So that's the bad news.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">*****</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">A few weeks back I was talking to a friend. He had been through a pretty torrid time in the last few years. He mentioned that he has a photo of a bloke he barely recognises in his wallet. The man in the photo has a serene expression. He's the epitome of happiness. In fact, the photograph is a selfie, taken on a walk across Scotland on the annual TGO Challenge. He was backpacking from coast to coast and at the time was about half way across. He had settled into his 'gentleman of the road' persona. His daily rhythm was to wake, have breakfast, then walk fifteen or so miles carrying a heavy rucsac. At the end of the day he would find a place for his one-man tent, have a lie down, make dinner and sleep.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Life was simple.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">He looks forward&nbsp;to this walk all year. He can walk alone for days but on occasion he can bump into old friends he has met on the walk years&nbsp;before. They each have this walk, this gift in common; they are kindred souls if you will. It may well be that this walk, this happiness is the only thing they have in common. But each recognises it and the sense of belonging is shared.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">For him, this long walk delivers the same pleasure and sensation&nbsp;as listening&nbsp;to his favourite music. Whatever it is, be it dopamine, adrenaline or some other pleasure chemicals the brain sends out, it does it for Mick.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*****</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another friend has carried a small pebble in her pocket found on a beautiful walk years and years ago. It gives her reassurance to feel it there - as a reminder of wonderful times when she needs it most. I was very taken by this, so much so that I picked up my own small rock at Land's End - that I christened Ricky - and carried him seventeen hundred miles on my own long walk the length of Britain. He still comes with me on every adventure.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-16LG06OfRMg/WoCKIyKgDyI/AAAAAAAAqlA/Rm8YbI0TynoDO1_Ka7MxEMlIUAqaIPQHACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180211_180342690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="1462" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-16LG06OfRMg/WoCKIyKgDyI/AAAAAAAAqlA/Rm8YbI0TynoDO1_Ka7MxEMlIUAqaIPQHACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180211_180342690.jpg" width="398" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">RICKY THE ROCK</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*****</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">If you <a href="http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/stress/" target="_blank">dig around a little</a> you find that stress, anxiety or depression can blight lives. As an example, a couple of months ago I read an incredibly brave blog post from an outdoor blogger I respect hugely. Geoff's blog post "<a href="https://farnotfast.blogspot.co.uk/2017/12/depression-and-me.html" target="_blank">Depression and me</a>" made me stop and think hard. Depression is damaging.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That brought me back to thinking about Mick's photograph and Ricky the Rock.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you are looking for ways to reduce your stress levels, a recent poll suggests that you could not do better than simply going for a walk: Two thousand UK adults were surveyed to find their favourite stress reducing activity:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Britain’s top 10 stress-reducing activities<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; text-align: left;"> <tbody><tr style="height: 15.85pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"> <td style="background: #D9D9D9; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.85pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 125.95pt;" width="168"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">Choice</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></div></td> <td style="background: #D9D9D9; border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.85pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">%</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></div></td> </tr><tr style="height: 14.9pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 14.9pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 125.95pt;" width="168"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">Walking</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 14.9pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">42.7%</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></div></td> </tr><tr style="height: 15.85pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.85pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 125.95pt;" width="168"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">Music</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.85pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">31.2%</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></div></td> </tr><tr style="height: 14.9pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 14.9pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 125.95pt;" width="168"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">Having a Bath</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 14.9pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">29.4%</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></div></td> </tr><tr style="height: 15.85pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.85pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 125.95pt;" width="168"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">Reading</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.85pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">25%</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></div></td> </tr><tr style="height: 14.9pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 14.9pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 125.95pt;" width="168"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">Watching TV</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 14.9pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">21.8%</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></div></td> </tr><tr style="height: 15.85pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.85pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 125.95pt;" width="168"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">Gardening<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.85pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">20.25%<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr style="height: 14.9pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 14.9pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 125.95pt;" width="168"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">Sport / fitness<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 14.9pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">18.4%<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr style="height: 15.85pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.85pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 125.95pt;" width="168"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">Nature<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.85pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">16.8%<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr style="height: 14.9pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 14.9pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 125.95pt;" width="168"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">Meditation<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 14.9pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">11.45%<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr style="height: 15.85pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.85pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 125.95pt;" width="168"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">Yoga<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.85pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.85pt;" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;">9.9%<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It seems that Mick has it about right. He goes for a walk and listens to music to make his life happier, to make his head a good place to be.</div><br /><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YilElCSa81g?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*****</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Regular readers of this blog will know that come each New Year <a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/people-chalk-mines-brickwork-railways.html" target="_blank">I set out to walk just three miles a day</a>&nbsp;up until May, when I set out for my annual walk across Scotland. Originally this was intended as a means to work up a general level of fitness and to fight the post Christmas flab.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You may be surprised to learn that this lazy old sod carried on with the regime as I thoroughly enjoy my walks. I live in a mixed urban-rural landscape, not one that would normally be associated with going out for lots of walks. However, whatever the weather I'm out there. It's a bit like that old Mackeson advert. "It looks good, it tastes good, and by golly it does you good." Okay, there may be a pub or two involved as well...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*****</span></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So there you have it. Statistics never lie. My suggestion is to be like Mick. Get to be that chap in your own photograph.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Going back to the start of this piece: Go for a walk. You may well continue eating pizza, greasy burgers and ice cream. Your children may still have their faces in their screens. However, you won't be a couch potato and you may get to meet a lot of folk that you quite like and have real conversations again when out on your walks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And you'll be a lot less stressed and much, much happier for it.</div><br /><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="460" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tiqxn3iOmxY?rel=0" width="650"></iframe><br /><br />Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-28957786041776480692018-01-28T01:11:00.000+00:002018-01-28T09:17:12.239+00:00TGO Challenge 2018: PreWalkDaunder & Loose Ends<div style="text-align: justify;">Clive Anderson used to be everywhere. He still may be, but I don't watch too much TV these days. However, his BBC Radio 4 programme, Loose Ends, is always worthwhile for the occasional musical gem Clive throws our way. I say occasional advisedly as he usually drags in folk club rejects or World Musicians from some Greek taverna who don't travel too well. Tonight it was Poppy Ackroyd's turn and so I braced myself for an aural thrashing.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However! This was one of those evenings that straight away afterwards had me rummaging about on YouTube.</div><br /><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/77d5O1b8bqE" width="640"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That little ditty reminded me that elsewhere in our parallel universe we have been busy and that it was time to put pen to paper on here once again. Firstly (is that a word? It should be. It does look odd if you look at it too closely and for too long) Lord Elpus has secured our train home from the TGO Challenge, from Montrose to London, slumming it in Plutocrat Class with the finest wines available to humanity, for a smidgen more than bugger all. He would have made a wonderful travel agent. No. Hold that. He hated customers, and so he would probably have sent them alligator fishing. Still, there wouldn't have been many post-vacation complaints, and he would have trousered their dosh and scarpered!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thirdly, (I'm doing odd numbers only tonight) Lord E's organisational skills have been working overtime and he has very ably organised (is that one of those split wotsits? My grammar is shite as I went to one of those Comprehensive schools) the 24th Annual PreWalkDaunder. Last year, this dubious honour befell that VeryVeryNiceMan, the RuftyTufty Mr Williams. He's not been the same chap since and has subsequently feigned disinterest in doing the TGO Challenge Ever Ever Again, Amen!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, that's what he thinks.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lord Elpus has very craftily invited David to this year's Daunder and the blighter has accepted. Softly, softly catchee monkey...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Attached to the invitation email were a few gpx files that purport to illustrate our three day stravaig. However, when opened in RouteBuddy (and as the BBC is over-fond of saying, "other mapping software packages are available, but they're rubbish by comparison") they produced a rather startling result, as witnessed below:</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cmerx2-ZJQo/Wm0EA87ZTqI/AAAAAAAAqYw/6Un_XFOqlLclBRAeMrLNFAf9K5Zg9dg7gCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2018-01-27%2B22.50.42.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="1600" height="330" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cmerx2-ZJQo/Wm0EA87ZTqI/AAAAAAAAqYw/6Un_XFOqlLclBRAeMrLNFAf9K5Zg9dg7gCLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot%2B2018-01-27%2B22.50.42.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AHEM: CLICK TO ENLARGE...</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Retirement is obviously playing poorly over at Lord Elpus Hall, as the gentleman, and I use that term in the most relaxed way possible, has now succumbed to sending out willy-doodles in gpx code. I put down this lapse in good taste to the lack of a firm hand from Miss Whiplash, as the poor girl has been bed-ridden, suffering from Proper Manflu for quite some time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This year's somewhat smaller clutch of Daunderers don't photograph particularly well but after reinstating the stairs and shooting the leopard I found a group picture behind the filing cabinet in the basement of the archive.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rMSqkW3aSMI/Wm0f6ByESJI/AAAAAAAAqZA/bO6MPdsmsNMyyWRmfLsQpbsNcFlxsZAYACLcBGAs/s1600/blazingsaddles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="650" height="346" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rMSqkW3aSMI/Wm0f6ByESJI/AAAAAAAAqZA/bO6MPdsmsNMyyWRmfLsQpbsNcFlxsZAYACLcBGAs/s640/blazingsaddles.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">APRIL'S DAUNDERERS</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the spirit of Old Mortality here are a few more tracks from Ms Ackroyd:</div><br /><br /><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ootIYurEu9c" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ED8LkZxQnVU" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s1Kc3b4Er28" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><br />You can find out more about Poppy Ackroyd here:<br /><br /><a href="http://poppyackroyd.com/">poppyackroyd.com</a><br /><br />Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-50671522821715779432017-12-24T19:09:00.003+00:002017-12-27T12:57:07.314+00:00Christmas Music from Kings<br /><br /><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q7ch7uottHU?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><br />For me, this was the highlight of the BBC's wonderful Carols from Kings College Chapel, Cambridge this evening. This version is from quite a while ago but I hope to replace it with today's at some point, as it was simply glorious.<br /><br />Happy Christmas, everyone.<br /><br /><br /><u>EDIT: 27th December 2017</u><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">There's still no YouTube version of the Kings 2017 piece up yet on YouTube but I've found this more technically proficient piece. However its fabulous accuracy is badly let down by woefully exaggerated post-recording volume adjustments. Of course, it lacks the incredible acoustics of Kings College Chapel. However it's better than the video posted above and will have to do until the BBC gets its act together.</div><br /><br /><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nn5ken3RJBo?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><br />HOWEVER! For a short while you can watch and listen to the real deal on BBC iPlayer. If you have no wish to listen to the whole programme, which would be a shame as there are some other gems within, you can fast forward to 1:02:24 for a stunning performance<br /><br />Trust me: This is really, really fabulous. Please click on the link below:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09kl5nx/carols-from-kings-2017">CAROLS FROM KINGS</a>Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-20228024509024054722017-11-29T22:32:00.000+00:002017-11-29T22:38:48.668+00:00TGO Challenge 2018: A route sheet<div style="text-align: justify;">It is still possible to print out a blank route sheet and fill it in by hand but in more recent years with speedy dispatch and handling in mind, Challengers have been encouraged to fill out an electronic form.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is entirely possible to make a pig's ear of this sheet, as it extraordinarily easy to nudge margins and tabs all over the shop or turn the thing into three or four pages! The fact that the document available to download already has some some unintended errors to start with isn't great.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Uncle Roger might been very cross to receive such an abomination as it would not have sat well in his filing system at all! Twenty-odd years ago I sent in my and Bob Butler's entry forms, with our details cut up from separate pages of our two magazines. The cut forms were returned and we were required to resubmit on just the one sheet, as the instructions had clearly stated. Could it have been coincidence that we got our places from the standby list that year?&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lord Elpus and I are of the same mindset. Over the years we have taken a little pride in nudging the sheets back and forth to fit better on the pages, tidying up columns and rows, inserting tiny rows to make the text appear less crowded within the frame and rearranging the grid to make it more pleasing to the eye. Over-long headings are simplified, superfluous instructions removed, fonts swapped, and coloured text changed for greater contrast and ease of reading.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course, the complete fabrication that is the route description - the real meat of the document - remains the same whatever we do. But it makes us so much happier that it looks pretty.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last night, just before the midnight chimes of Big Ben our vetted route plopped gently into our inboxes. This year our extraordinary Vetters were Les &amp; Issy, and the Challenge Coordinators, Sue &amp; Ali, were burning the midnight oil.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Happily, no changes are required. We are good to go!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8mwLPM-cT3I/Wh8iJ6i8XTI/AAAAAAAAodo/Ov03dapF8JgRQE_9x0fWEluSdKHCFWzEACLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2017-11-29%2B21.01.05.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="1122" height="442" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8mwLPM-cT3I/Wh8iJ6i8XTI/AAAAAAAAodo/Ov03dapF8JgRQE_9x0fWEluSdKHCFWzEACLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot%2B2017-11-29%2B21.01.05.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">CLICK TO ENLARGE</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ybOym4awiaA/Wh8heWEDjrI/AAAAAAAAodc/KHOrjBaGNegVwo7olsHGgv6AcV0WtbUcgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2017-11-29%2B21.01.26.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="1121" height="442" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ybOym4awiaA/Wh8heWEDjrI/AAAAAAAAodc/KHOrjBaGNegVwo7olsHGgv6AcV0WtbUcgCLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot%2B2017-11-29%2B21.01.26.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">CLICK TO ENLARGE</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Postscript</b>: An observation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All Challengers should aim to get their route accepted, at the first attempt. From reading the Challenge Message Board it seems that a small number view the Vetters as a source of assistance when designing a route. It should be stressed that our admirable Vetters are volunteers and whilst happy to offer a route suggestion that might add interest to a Challenger, they might not be overly impressed receiving routes that are poorly prepared, needing countless revisions.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-8766407343872261792017-11-12T18:10:00.000+00:002017-11-23T11:01:53.566+00:00TGO Challenge 2018: A cunning plan...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In 2013, for his tenth TGO Challenge Lord Elpus assumed full control of planning our route across Scotland. Mad'n'Bad and I had one or two issues with his plan; At the time, I wrote</span>:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14.3px;">"Now tell me if you think I am a curmudgeon but it would seem logical, that given we’ll be starting on the west coast, if we want to finish on the opposite side of the country it would be a good</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14.3px;">&nbsp;idea if we were to head in an easterly direction.&nbsp;</span></span></i><i style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.3px;">Well, of course it would. But in our case, we shall be heading west...</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.3px;">"</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This year I have had a cunning plan...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fQk_832EAx4?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We are starting at the mainland's most westerly cafe and lighthouse: Ardnamurchan Point. According to good old Google, there is sod-all west of here for some two thousand miles, apart from seawater and fish, until you arrive at Newfoundland.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zHxbhR76pY8/Wgh-sEC2D4I/AAAAAAAAoCU/u8O-7E1Mu5QiqqkmAL5UYLkYvXr87a5FwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2017-11-12%2B16.38.58.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="1544" height="310" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zHxbhR76pY8/Wgh-sEC2D4I/AAAAAAAAoCU/u8O-7E1Mu5QiqqkmAL5UYLkYvXr87a5FwCLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot%2B2017-11-12%2B16.38.58.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">CLICK TO ENLARGE</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It follows that the only direction available to us is East.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After enjoying a civilised cup of tea in the cafe at Ardnamurchan Point our plan is to then walk in an easterly direction for two weeks until we arrive at another wonderful cafe at the east coast. To add a spark, a frisson of excitement to our endeavour we have elected to walk within a tightly observed ten kilometre wide corridor, bounded by the OS Grid Northings 60 and 70.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This voluntary constraint (Miss Whiplash tells me in confidence that Lord E enjoys a little constraint) at times requires very careful planning to ensure we don't inadvertently stumble over the thin blue lines to find ourselves horrifically out of bounds. This means that on occasion we will be found tumbling down and up steep valley sides instead of enjoying airy perambulations around the heads of glens. Public houses will be tantalisingly out of reach.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is an expedition like no other we have attempted in the past. There will be suffering, howls of anguish. We are taking this challenge on for you, dear reader.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Below, you'll find an overview of our route. It's three hundred kilometres long.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>NB</b>: You can click on each of the maps to blow them up. However, if you right click on them you are given the option of seeing them at full size in a new tab. For those of you who enjoy RouteBuddy's full strength mapping, I should warn you; This is hardcore and should only be viewed in the company of consenting adults.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SLlZT-DTAkQ/WgeYpjHqu1I/AAAAAAAAoBw/DK6vlB8GPuAAk8L1rYTLXshlh9G3uP1aQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2017-11-11%2B23.48.31.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="1600" height="332" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SLlZT-DTAkQ/WgeYpjHqu1I/AAAAAAAAoBw/DK6vlB8GPuAAk8L1rYTLXshlh9G3uP1aQCLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot%2B2017-11-11%2B23.48.31.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">TGO CHALLENGE ROUTE OVERVIEW [CLICK TO ENLARGE]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />The next four RouteBuddy Maps screenshots show our route in a little more detail.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O54p8VveS78/WhVdDyuE41I/AAAAAAAAoS0/dxrQJ5T49KYMgUWi9IoxnM2UGMXtu28iACKgBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2017-11-22%2B11.02.28.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="1600" height="330" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O54p8VveS78/WhVdDyuE41I/AAAAAAAAoS0/dxrQJ5T49KYMgUWi9IoxnM2UGMXtu28iACKgBGAs/s640/Screenshot%2B2017-11-22%2B11.02.28.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DAY 0 TO DAY 3 [CLICK TO ENLARGE]</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xmtwAMEYpPs/WhVgcW2RZQI/AAAAAAAAoTk/XbnB5dkVFjU5PYzIKOUYFxDU24CRjnuZwCKgBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2017-11-22%2B11.28.56.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="1600" height="332" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xmtwAMEYpPs/WhVgcW2RZQI/AAAAAAAAoTk/XbnB5dkVFjU5PYzIKOUYFxDU24CRjnuZwCKgBGAs/s640/Screenshot%2B2017-11-22%2B11.28.56.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DAY 4 TO DAY SEVEN [CLICK TO ENLARGE]</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fa5D4hJyqkA/WhVdfm1ZLYI/AAAAAAAAoS8/nek_BUfldqUoeEfP87h7t037PXbS5_RHgCKgBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2017-11-22%2B11.03.35.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="1600" height="332" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fa5D4hJyqkA/WhVdfm1ZLYI/AAAAAAAAoS8/nek_BUfldqUoeEfP87h7t037PXbS5_RHgCKgBGAs/s640/Screenshot%2B2017-11-22%2B11.03.35.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DAY SIX TO DAY NINE [CLICK TO ENLARGE]</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OREOpI3mCSA/WhVdmj0ngLI/AAAAAAAAoTE/F3rUu4o45cQyRdmXjjbRak5o_EGPUULWgCKgBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2017-11-22%2B11.04.19.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1600" height="332" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OREOpI3mCSA/WhVdmj0ngLI/AAAAAAAAoTE/F3rUu4o45cQyRdmXjjbRak5o_EGPUULWgCKgBGAs/s640/Screenshot%2B2017-11-22%2B11.04.19.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DAY ELEVEN TO DAY FOURTEEN [CLICK TO ENLARGE]</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Lord Elpus has been busy: Our transport up to the West Coast of Scotland is all arranged and Bed and Breakfasts are booked. All that remains is for me to finish the route sheet and persuade our Vetter that "it'll go."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Oh. There's also the small matter of walking three hundred kilometres of tick-infested bog next May.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">What could possibly go wrong?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u>EDIT: 22nd November 2017:</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li>Point where we cross Scotland's W/E watershed added to map</li></ul><ul><li>Our group's Captain, our Senior Boy, Lord Elpus sent our beautiful, quite sublime route sheet (can you tell that I spent ages fettling it so that it looked reasonably professional rather than the botched, ugly job devised by a previous Challenge Coordinator who shall remain nameless) to the Challenge Coordinators on 20th November for vetting... However, at the time of writing we have yet to have the contents, which is what's really important, approved. We have one or two doubts whether it might pass scrutiny - but more on that at a later post!</li></ul>Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-5923428250994530302017-10-20T14:07:00.001+01:002017-12-27T12:03:09.335+00:00ElevenTime marches on.<br /><br />A few days back the blog passed its eleventh birthday.<br /><br /><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5Kue42kO0hY" width="560"></iframe>Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-73242671934091366562017-10-19T00:30:00.000+01:002017-10-19T00:37:42.699+01:00Then sings my soul. Helegant walks LEJOG<div style="text-align: justify;">It's been over ten years since I finished my LEJOG and lately I have been out of touch with the goings on in that wonderful community of daft buggers who want to walk from one end of mainland Britain to the other. Until a week ago.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XjmOC4PYc6g/WefQo_RzKwI/AAAAAAAAmxY/67x38Fmne0YACNpkhb972TPQtsjv7zZAACLcBGAs/s1600/9ff40797-0b7e-4b98-82d2-0c2584c9fa01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="770" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XjmOC4PYc6g/WefQo_RzKwI/AAAAAAAAmxY/67x38Fmne0YACNpkhb972TPQtsjv7zZAACLcBGAs/s1600/9ff40797-0b7e-4b98-82d2-0c2584c9fa01.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I received a note from Helegant, a lady about to set off on her own LEJOG. Casting around for advice she had contacted a lovely chap who had done the walk. Twice. I had the pleasure of walking with <a href="http://mylongwalk.com/" target="_blank">Daryl May</a> for a day on his second end to end, that time from John o'Groats to Lands End. He in turn put Helen on to me.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Helen's no stranger to walking, and has completed Wainwright's Coast to Coast (mostly) and the Ridgeway National Trail However, she's about to take on one of the UK's biggest walks. She estimates her route to be in the order of 1,400 miles, which is slightly longer than most.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She has set herself a few rules, which I have copied and pasted from her blog, below:</div><br /><article class="post-2 page type-page status-publish hentry" id="post-2" style="background-color: white; color: #383838; position: relative;"><div class="entry-content" style="margin: 0.875em 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><ol style="list-style-position: outside; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px;"><li style="margin-top: 0.4375em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Run, walk or crawl all the way.</b><br />Is that too obvious? I’ll be using transport links, personal and public to move between the start and finish points of each day’s walk, but I’ll restart where I left off.&nbsp; Bridges are OK, ferries, helicopters and piggy-backs are not.</i></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0.4375em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I’m doing this because I want to, so rule 2 is “<b>Enjoy the journey</b>.” At least, try!</i></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0.4375em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Stay within my own capabilities</b>. I inhabit an internet world where extreme achievements are normalised by some amazing people. I am in awe of you all, but can only work the body I have. Remember this on tough days.</i></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0.4375em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Leave no trace</b>. “Take only photographs, leave only footprints.” I’m taking this a bit further because our land is precious. This means I’ll carry a rubbish bag and aim to deposit other people’s cans, bottles, crisp bags, sandwich and gel wrappers etc in waste bins as I find them. Won’t it be nice if I find nothing to collect? Hmmm.</i></span></li><li style="margin-top: 0.4375em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Visitors/fellow walkers are welcome</b> (especially Fetchies – you know who you are).<br />If you have positive comments and encouragement to offer, or you want to join in then please contact me, but standard rules apply.<br />a) If you are an axe murderer, leave the axe at home.<br />b) If you are an Eeyore/Henny Penny/Puddleglum/drain-person (as opposed to a radiator person), you are still welcome, but please don’t try to convince me that I’ll fail.</i></span></li></ol><div><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It appears from this list that Helen has got things spot on.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She is setting off from Lands End on Tuesday 24th October this year - that's in just five days time. She's splitting her walk into two parts; This October she'll be supported by her husband so she won't need to carry her camping gear and have to worry about putting up the tent in the dark - the clocks change a few days after her start - and next year, for the second part she'll be solo.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You can find Helen's very well written and organised blog by clicking on the link below:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://helegant.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Then sings my soul</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Helen is walking for a charity that is close to her heart, Pancreatic Cancer Research. Her Just Giving page can be found by clicking the link below:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/helegant-walks-lejog" target="_blank">Just Giving: Helegant walks LEJOG</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In case you lose the link as this post slides further down my blog, you'll find a link to Helen's blog on the right hand side of my blog under the heading "BETTER PLACES TO VISIT." Then click on "Then sings my soul"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'll finish by adding my very best wishes to Helen. As an old friend once said to me as I set off on another day of my LEJOG, "Tight Laces," Helen.</div></div></article>Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-18649638185384926802017-09-22T18:25:00.000+01:002017-09-24T18:22:39.094+01:00TGO Challenge 2018: The problem of team selection...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Ernest Henry Shackleton</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Henry Cecil John Hunt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Christian John Storey Bonington<span style="color: #222222; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Three generations of inspirational British explorers. For chaps of a certain age, these names conjure up images of heroism and derring-do. Each have their rightful place in history as leaders of men that accomplished extraordinary feats. Whilst their names are part of our vocabulary, the names of their team members are less likely to be on the tip of the tongue. Who now remembers Burley, Wish, Shute, Jungle, Constant and Prone? Quite. Yet without these unsung heroes Shackleton, Hunt and Bonington would be obscure footnotes in the pages of British history.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*****</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">For each of the last twenty-three years I have been a team member in expeditions to cross, on foot, from the west coast to the east coast of Scotland: The Great Outdoors Challenge. Putting together a team that is able to place a man at the east coast is a tricky affair as I'm sure Ernest and John would testify, if they were still around.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-In3ClXdk6yo/WcUljArOJCI/AAAAAAAAmbQ/6yY2kwowbBAvSrsNNKabUJO4YPuJxGD5QCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_3376%255B6%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-In3ClXdk6yo/WcUljArOJCI/AAAAAAAAmbQ/6yY2kwowbBAvSrsNNKabUJO4YPuJxGD5QCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_3376%255B6%255D" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">THE RANKLING-LA [CLICK TO ENLARGE]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Every year hordes of hopefuls apply for the limited number of places on the TGO Challenge. And who can blame them when there is the prospect of views like these; see above and below. Some prefer to take the Challenge on alone. Others pair up or travel in threes or fours. I've walked by myself, in pairs, threes and fours. This year we have opted for a tried and tested threesome, but not before a fair amount of soul-searching.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GB24_AZzSsA/WcUH1leV62I/AAAAAAAAmak/OA1ZCx_Q54MhS5HepDbgGQ1BmU_zqXvIwCKgBGAs/s1600/1070756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1600" height="354" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GB24_AZzSsA/WcUH1leV62I/AAAAAAAAmak/OA1ZCx_Q54MhS5HepDbgGQ1BmU_zqXvIwCKgBGAs/s640/1070756.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">BEYOND THE RANKLING-LA [CLICK TO ENLARGE]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Other people are odd. They are very different indeed. Tiny foibles, that in the Axe and Compass after a few beers appear to be mere trifles, are enough for a fight to the death after two weeks in the empty quarter, as Gary Larson - the sole survivor of the Lewis and Clark expedition, was to discover.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7jgqX6xja6s/WcUYsUWp3HI/AAAAAAAAmbA/eEonK93KKo0YOo7eTrRA_23k1-Sa7BN8gCLcBGAs/s1600/21617637_10214669197907666_4952646574557746722_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7jgqX6xja6s/WcUYsUWp3HI/AAAAAAAAmbA/eEonK93KKo0YOo7eTrRA_23k1-Sa7BN8gCLcBGAs/s640/21617637_10214669197907666_4952646574557746722_n.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Once again, we've decided to throw our caps into the ring and have applied for next year's Great Outdoors Challenge. Which brings me neatly to the matter of our own team selection.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's important that prospective team members are of good character and sociable. This results in a well functioning team, a cohesive unit. I decided to search my extensive archives, including my little black book of people who have pissed me off, the inter-web and as many Criminal Records Office files that I could hack, until my unfortunate discovery, to track down the sordid details of each our team members.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first chap, referred to here as 'me,' appears to be a saintly soul, a Grandfather and all round good egg. An extensive search produced just three photographs that cover this adventurer's lifespan. Yes. He definitely gets a place in the team.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SkHubMp6NnU/WcUBPIU4MmI/AAAAAAAAmaE/iqy94HYMoAQNYhFHUGf7qMFQHaUNpYGzACKgBGAs/s1600/4731363162_42701da319_b%2BREV%2BA%255B5%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="1024" height="398" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SkHubMp6NnU/WcUBPIU4MmI/AAAAAAAAmaE/iqy94HYMoAQNYhFHUGf7qMFQHaUNpYGzACKgBGAs/s640/4731363162_42701da319_b%2BREV%2BA%255B5%255D" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">ME, SGURR NAN COIREACHAN, 2010 [CLICK TO ENLARGE]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PA3P_xyPXiI/WcUFc8exySI/AAAAAAAAmaQ/MzgLgaGyrgY6V69WTbGvp58T4S3zXwbLgCKgBGAs/s1600/Alan%2Bon%2BPennine%2BWay%2B1976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1033" data-original-width="1600" height="412" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PA3P_xyPXiI/WcUFc8exySI/AAAAAAAAmaQ/MzgLgaGyrgY6V69WTbGvp58T4S3zXwbLgCKgBGAs/s640/Alan%2Bon%2BPennine%2BWay%2B1976.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">ME, THE PENNINE WAY, 1976 [CLICK TO ENLARGE]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uWM1oaing6o/WcRKdMF19KI/AAAAAAAAmZE/yuHC97SYoa0XCF12YrcUv7dhPJL_DkP5wCLcBGAs/s1600/1400376_696725107017786_1651092345_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="445" height="453" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uWM1oaing6o/WcRKdMF19KI/AAAAAAAAmZE/yuHC97SYoa0XCF12YrcUv7dhPJL_DkP5wCLcBGAs/s640/1400376_696725107017786_1651092345_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">ME, CIRCA 1964, BRACKNELL CHURCH HALL</span>&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had a great deal of difficulty tracking down the details of the next member of our team - a certain Lord Elpus of Lord Elpus Hall. He has obviously spent a great deal of time cleaning up his murky presence on the worldwide-web. Just when I thought I had found something this was the usual result:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XRtCdFkjt5Q/WcU5NrFJPZI/AAAAAAAAmbg/XNliYe1ZAaI5xcqBORLmpZxdxU8qiY_pgCLcBGAs/s1600/http-error-404-not-found-prestashop-blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="575" height="155" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XRtCdFkjt5Q/WcU5NrFJPZI/AAAAAAAAmbg/XNliYe1ZAaI5xcqBORLmpZxdxU8qiY_pgCLcBGAs/s400/http-error-404-not-found-prestashop-blog.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />However, the scoundrel had forgotten about the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayback_Machine" target="_blank">Wayback Machine</a> which produced these honeys.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K6Wmc7r0TrE/WcREqzi0E4I/AAAAAAAAmYo/JH0MivG9FL42HYAmgza1siEbO5Hkl1CggCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_3370%255B6%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="1200" height="452" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K6Wmc7r0TrE/WcREqzi0E4I/AAAAAAAAmYo/JH0MivG9FL42HYAmgza1siEbO5Hkl1CggCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_3370%255B6%255D" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">LORD ELPUS, 2001, ANNAPURNA SANCTUARY</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nCx5Hr8HLvo/WcRDjIV_kKI/AAAAAAAAmYY/Qv69WRyI9wkUhxNtJ9TpAbskbomhMeBYwCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_3828%255B6%255D" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="800" height="518" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nCx5Hr8HLvo/WcRDjIV_kKI/AAAAAAAAmYY/Qv69WRyI9wkUhxNtJ9TpAbskbomhMeBYwCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_3828%255B6%255D" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">LORD ELPUS, CIRCA 1953, CAMP III, RUM DOODLE</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jeD_wBgYV0I/WcT7X48u0XI/AAAAAAAAmZo/IRt_Un5IOBgm1Ti5ttQ6rFwxvZvB8ER2QCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20170609_221621129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jeD_wBgYV0I/WcT7X48u0XI/AAAAAAAAmZo/IRt_Un5IOBgm1Ti5ttQ6rFwxvZvB8ER2QCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20170609_221621129.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">LORD ELPUS - RECENT PICTURE, YORKSHIRE</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">From the little detail available it appears the character is ageless. His name has been linked to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brink%27s-Mat_robbery" target="_blank">Brink's-Mat,</a>&nbsp;and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Train_Robbery_(1963)" target="_blank">Great Train Robbery</a>. They say the true mastermind of those heists was never found. The only clue to his whereabouts is a ferocious black cat the size of a baby seal, colloquially referred to as 'Doodle.'&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had, however, no difficulty at all in finding the low-down (and dirty) of our third man on the rope. Stories and images of Mad'n'Bad appear across time and space. It is said his image is being carried on Voyager 1, now some thirteen billion miles from earth. Fortunately NASA declined to take a recording of his electric guitar solos, preferring instead to take <a href="https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/golden-record/whats-on-the-record/music/" target="_blank">Chuck Berry and Bach.</a>&nbsp;</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ug85UpUB6LY/WcREzvU-IOI/AAAAAAAAmYs/fFmFXtdvK6sKyHGHRzXv7nAnLqOKlAITgCKgBGAs/s1600/P1030880%255B6%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1200" height="398" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ug85UpUB6LY/WcREzvU-IOI/AAAAAAAAmYs/fFmFXtdvK6sKyHGHRzXv7nAnLqOKlAITgCKgBGAs/s640/P1030880%255B6%255D" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">MAD'N'BAD, NORTH WALL RUM DOODLE, 2010</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YqgD47Dfkfw/WcREJsMr6BI/AAAAAAAAmYg/f5H3dC04rQwbvXGq29KTVU7xLzihGj7TgCKgBGAs/s1600/P1030993A%255B7%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="650" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YqgD47Dfkfw/WcREJsMr6BI/AAAAAAAAmYg/f5H3dC04rQwbvXGq29KTVU7xLzihGj7TgCKgBGAs/s640/P1030993A%255B7%255D" width="470" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">MAD'N'BAD. COULD BE ANYWHERE, REALLY...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2zYT_y2Ooi0/WcT8Ce9WNyI/AAAAAAAAmZw/5kwyzpwcVQ4hUDARzgW9UUrxNgE8xPpwgCLcBGAs/s1600/P1050870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="678" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2zYT_y2Ooi0/WcT8Ce9WNyI/AAAAAAAAmZw/5kwyzpwcVQ4hUDARzgW9UUrxNgE8xPpwgCLcBGAs/s640/P1050870.JPG" width="564" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">MAD'N'BAD. HE HAS A WEAKNESS FOR THE BLACK STUFF.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">What can I say? This chap has a record of broken legs, helicopter rescues, walking companions carried away, sobbing or threatening murder. And yet...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And yet we love the rascal to death. He's promised, should we gain a place, to put rubber stoppers on the points of his flailing walking poles and to walk in a polite line on the correct side of the road, facing oncoming traffic. He has promised not to stand with his hands on his hips and harrumph loudly at a distance of a mile further ahead. He has promised to carry a rucsac full of sloe gin and life-saving cans of beer.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There you have it. I give you our team. No one in their right minds would pay for them. We're good to go.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And if Christian John Storey Bonington is reading this and would like to tag along, I'm sure he would be most welcome<span style="color: #222222; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">.&nbsp;</span></span>We could do with a decent leader...</div>Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-15536031893924260272017-09-18T17:42:00.000+01:002017-09-18T17:42:02.408+01:00Bracknell Regeneration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Three years ago <a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/cunning-mums-and-regeneration.html" target="_blank">I posted some pictures</a> of the Bracknell town centre that I grew up with. Here's a few to jog your memory of the place, emptied and waiting for the bulldozers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eQaLeRWrXk4/Wb_tF34kHcI/AAAAAAAAmVk/JXnHcuOfZwg9hrymwu7Zfw6X-ELIIT8tgCKgBGAs/s1600/04062013241%255B6%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="1024" height="433" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eQaLeRWrXk4/Wb_tF34kHcI/AAAAAAAAmVk/JXnHcuOfZwg9hrymwu7Zfw6X-ELIIT8tgCKgBGAs/s640/04062013241%255B6%255D" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Bjv15kvGKU/Wb_tF2hRiLI/AAAAAAAAmVk/Ff7Hpq_PhrM87WJ_PFrpJXKGEd--BB8LQCKgBGAs/s1600/04062013244%255B6%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1023" height="436" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Bjv15kvGKU/Wb_tF2hRiLI/AAAAAAAAmVk/Ff7Hpq_PhrM87WJ_PFrpJXKGEd--BB8LQCKgBGAs/s640/04062013244%255B6%255D" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7sa9JyB6SPk/Wb_tF5mQuzI/AAAAAAAAmVk/8jum8s7qG9oHim3vvyKFxvBvvKIeIxoFgCKgBGAs/s1600/04062013245%255B6%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="997" height="492" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7sa9JyB6SPk/Wb_tF5mQuzI/AAAAAAAAmVk/8jum8s7qG9oHim3vvyKFxvBvvKIeIxoFgCKgBGAs/s640/04062013245%255B6%255D" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zHkIPBTOAMw/Wb_tF9dYs3I/AAAAAAAAmVk/FztqKW2VzCg3Z5DAC7WFez3cWxpRJnOsACKgBGAs/s1600/04062013246%255B7%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1020" height="466" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zHkIPBTOAMw/Wb_tF9dYs3I/AAAAAAAAmVk/FztqKW2VzCg3Z5DAC7WFez3cWxpRJnOsACKgBGAs/s640/04062013246%255B7%255D" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QSN2T7RK8xc/Wb_tFzFwHBI/AAAAAAAAmVk/L3YSKI4GzLwjWJMMkOk6a7pRaEgkwe2-ACKgBGAs/s1600/04062013247%255B6%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="763" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QSN2T7RK8xc/Wb_tFzFwHBI/AAAAAAAAmVk/L3YSKI4GzLwjWJMMkOk6a7pRaEgkwe2-ACKgBGAs/s640/04062013247%255B6%255D" width="536" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Then the bulldozers arrived:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ft3JvtqYa0s/U6WEHQlFKNI/AAAAAAAAN8Q/vUJlwldNUjA/P1000995_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="652" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ft3JvtqYa0s/U6WEHQlFKNI/AAAAAAAAN8Q/vUJlwldNUjA/P1000995_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Our new town centre opened its doors a week or so ago. Here's a taste. It seems to be going down very well with the locals.</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-609MNMynqtQ/Wb_ypSAtK2I/AAAAAAAAmV4/0fvgwKQulfQVIso9OqeNA6x43-RduHWdwCKgBGAs/s1600/1100278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-609MNMynqtQ/Wb_ypSAtK2I/AAAAAAAAmV4/0fvgwKQulfQVIso9OqeNA6x43-RduHWdwCKgBGAs/s640/1100278.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhCPdPPBkVU/Wb_ypU42C9I/AAAAAAAAmV4/5OG4M3d0YhgdKrvs8pDyDXwjMqyS21s_gCKgBGAs/s1600/1100257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhCPdPPBkVU/Wb_ypU42C9I/AAAAAAAAmV4/5OG4M3d0YhgdKrvs8pDyDXwjMqyS21s_gCKgBGAs/s640/1100257.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BtkXimLbdLI/Wb_ypXOdteI/AAAAAAAAmV4/HE35MQ9PRukGRUejavGEyabLp6OMjJ-agCKgBGAs/s1600/1100304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BtkXimLbdLI/Wb_ypXOdteI/AAAAAAAAmV4/HE35MQ9PRukGRUejavGEyabLp6OMjJ-agCKgBGAs/s640/1100304.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GxDCtaInjFI/Wb_ypZ1FGVI/AAAAAAAAmV4/JIPtb59TEJULcww7-3xHgLTnKd_b6M1IgCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20170907_151553261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GxDCtaInjFI/Wb_ypZ1FGVI/AAAAAAAAmV4/JIPtb59TEJULcww7-3xHgLTnKd_b6M1IgCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20170907_151553261.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l1pqHJcwBY0/Wb_ypV-poAI/AAAAAAAAmV4/0ODvKea47QcZx73rZs0DwodOyWU4-kEWACKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20170907_151014827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l1pqHJcwBY0/Wb_ypV-poAI/AAAAAAAAmV4/0ODvKea47QcZx73rZs0DwodOyWU4-kEWACKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20170907_151014827.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YtI1QJHgoHc/Wb_ypXzasSI/AAAAAAAAmV4/Ubn0D-pV6RgxAnIr9g2ZGb1jTtiF10V5ACKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20170907_151355817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YtI1QJHgoHc/Wb_ypXzasSI/AAAAAAAAmV4/Ubn0D-pV6RgxAnIr9g2ZGb1jTtiF10V5ACKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20170907_151355817.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNcw7yBISRw/Wb_ypTfT-JI/AAAAAAAAmV4/hlvh-GemaSQMSyYvL_CkUroZTKVlbXHTACKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20170907_151724002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNcw7yBISRw/Wb_ypTfT-JI/AAAAAAAAmV4/hlvh-GemaSQMSyYvL_CkUroZTKVlbXHTACKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20170907_151724002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MePRnFNXdG0/Wb_ypbcMthI/AAAAAAAAmV4/K3T6Za4_eNYUeG-xqTmKGKtQ_W5PlV_QwCKgBGAs/s1600/1100263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MePRnFNXdG0/Wb_ypbcMthI/AAAAAAAAmV4/K3T6Za4_eNYUeG-xqTmKGKtQ_W5PlV_QwCKgBGAs/s640/1100263.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-33895509360727108622017-08-25T23:01:00.000+01:002017-09-27T12:15:21.294+01:00TGO Challenge 2017: Strathcarron to Red Castle: Index<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sVsozGuzxYw/WaBX4ILXyuI/AAAAAAAAlmA/uFRIkdEyvt0Bre1VpccM4MYHezbdQeYawCKgBGAs/s1600/1090405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="1600" height="468" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sVsozGuzxYw/WaBX4ILXyuI/AAAAAAAAlmA/uFRIkdEyvt0Bre1VpccM4MYHezbdQeYawCKgBGAs/s640/1090405.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GLEN MAZERAN</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px;"><span style="font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px;">Good Lord! This year's TGO Challenge blog posts have finally finished. Here's a handy index to sift out the TGO Challenge posts from the rest of the blog. It</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;freesans&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px;">&nbsp;pulls together all the blog posts for my 2017 TGO Challenge, from sending off the application form, training walks, designing the route to the walk itself.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: justify;">You can click on each post (it’s in chronological order) and the corresponding blog post will open in a new window.</div><div align="justify" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px;"><br /></div><div align="justify" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px;"><br /></div><div align="justify" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px;"><u style="font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: start;">PREPARING FOR THE TGO CHALLENGE:</u></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Avoiding the eyesores: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/planning-wind-farm-free-tgo-challenge.html" target="_blank">Planning a wind farm free TGO Challenge</a>&nbsp;</li><li style="text-align: justify;">The team, route and the route sheet &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/tgo-challenge-2017-third-man-map-route.html" target="_blank">A third man. map and route sheet&nbsp;</a></li><li style="text-align: justify;">Putting your foot to the floor, at last &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/guilt-tgo-challenge-and-northern-soul.html" target="_blank">Guilt, the TGO Challenge and Northern Soul</a></li><li style="text-align: justify;">Putting in some miles &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/things-looking-up.html" target="_blank">Things looking up</a></li><li style="text-align: justify;">Having a plan &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/tgo-challenge-2017-getting-organised.html" target="_blank">Getting organised, limbering up</a></li><li style="text-align: justify;">Can you be 'over-trained'?&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/people-chalk-mines-brickwork-railways.html" target="_blank">People, chalk mines, brickwork railways &amp; Spring</a></li><li style="text-align: justify;">The annual pilgrimage&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/tgo-challenge-2017-prewalkdaunder-lakes.html" target="_blank">PreWalkDaunder: The Lakes</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul><span style="text-align: justify;"></span><br /><div><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="text-align: justify;"><u>THE TGO CHALLENGE BLOG POSTS: </u>&nbsp; &nbsp;</span><br /><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li>The magic carpet to Scotlandshire &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/tgo-challenge-2017-coming-ready-or-not.html" target="_blank">Coming, ready or not!</a></li><li>Day 1 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/tgoc2017-day-1-strathcarron-to-baobh.html" target="_blank">Strathcarron to Baobh-bhacan Dubha</a></li><li>Day 2 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/tgoc2017-day-2-baobh-bhacan-dubha-to.html" target="_blank">Baobh-bhacan Dubha to River Meig</a></li><li>Day 3 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/tgo-challenge-2017-day-3-river-meig-to.html" target="_blank">River Meig to Glen Orrin</a></li><li>Days 4 &amp; 5 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/tgoc2017-days-4-5-glen-orrin-to.html" target="_blank">Glen Orrin to Drumnadrochit</a></li><li>Days 6 &amp; 7 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/tgoc2017-days-6-7-crossing-monadh-liath.html" target="_blank">Crossing the Monadh Liath</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Days 8 &amp; 9 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/tgo-challenge-2017-days-8-9-aviemore-to.html" target="_blank">Aviemore to Braemar</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Days 10 &amp; 11 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/tgoc2017-days-10-11-braemar-to-fee-burn.html" target="_blank">Braemar to the Fee Burn</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Day 12 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/tgoc2017-day-12-fee-burn-to-airlie.html" target="_blank">The Fee Burn to Airlie Memorial Tower</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Days 13 &amp; 14 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://alansloman.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/tgoc2017-days-13-14-airlie-tower-to-red.html" target="_blank">Airlie Memorial Tower to Red Castle</a>&nbsp;</li></ul></div><ul></ul><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And for my splendid walking companion's take on our TGO Challenge, here are the links to his excellent account:</div><br /><u>RUFTY TUFTY DAVID WILLIAMS' POSTS:</u><br /><u><br /></u><a href="http://fellbound.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/the-walk-begins.html" target="_blank">Challenging Amnesia</a><br /><a href="http://fellbound.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/challenging-obstacles.html" target="_blank">Challenging Obstacles</a><br /><a href="http://fellbound.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/challenge-reflections-on-2017-tgo.html" target="_blank">Challenging Reflections</a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.02px;"><span style="font-size: large;">*****</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.02px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px;">I’ve had fun putting this together. I hope you enjoy it as well.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px;"></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px;"><u style="line-height: 20.02px; text-align: justify;">NOTE:</u><span style="line-height: 20.02px; text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 20.02px; text-align: justify;">If you are thinking of applying for the Challenge for the first time and would like to know a little more about it, or have anything you would like to ask, please feel free to get in touch. You can get hold of me by using the Contact Form at the bottom of this blog's right hand column.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-40528050547681430902017-08-19T00:06:00.000+01:002017-08-21T14:06:30.821+01:00TGOC2017 Days 13 & 14: Airlie Tower to Red Castle<div style="text-align: justify;">It's a bittersweet start to the day; this morning we are leaving the hills behind, with a thirty mile walk ahead of us across some surprisingly pretty countryside on our quest for the east coast. We're splitting it over two days, with a Bed and Breakfast at Letham tonight.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2JlWixdtCzo/WZXjZ1L2LuI/AAAAAAAAlYE/hIsgXN7mI4ooeRyiFZp_v_efSrJxs9BRgCKgBGAs/s1600/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1600" height="450" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2JlWixdtCzo/WZXjZ1L2LuI/AAAAAAAAlYE/hIsgXN7mI4ooeRyiFZp_v_efSrJxs9BRgCKgBGAs/s640/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CLICK TO ENLARGE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QCT5G03p1bs/WZXjZxnmY4I/AAAAAAAAlYE/2ZqAYSkZjrIyEnrkDfX6ERPOIHSGBZuhACKgBGAs/s1600/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="1600" height="452" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QCT5G03p1bs/WZXjZxnmY4I/AAAAAAAAlYE/2ZqAYSkZjrIyEnrkDfX6ERPOIHSGBZuhACKgBGAs/s640/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B15.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CLICK TO ENLARGE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-72E3MT2CHYE/WZXjZ28gBCI/AAAAAAAAlYE/QeImxwY8Gx4e7WWxacyoBDZet2FCCnpagCKgBGAs/s1600/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="1600" height="448" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-72E3MT2CHYE/WZXjZ28gBCI/AAAAAAAAlYE/QeImxwY8Gx4e7WWxacyoBDZet2FCCnpagCKgBGAs/s640/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B16.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CLICK TO ENLARGE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0WSRQ0LRGBc/WZXjZ4j6wQI/AAAAAAAAlYE/rbTSbvBGXSog5CKlQndwHehMQvDju0LEQCKgBGAs/s1600/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="1600" height="448" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0WSRQ0LRGBc/WZXjZ4j6wQI/AAAAAAAAlYE/rbTSbvBGXSog5CKlQndwHehMQvDju0LEQCKgBGAs/s640/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B17.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CLICK TO ENLARGE</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We make a hash of finding the road through the woods at the bottom of the hill but there's no better way to get the blood pumping than a bit of bushwhacking. It's now a simple matter of putting one foot in front of the other and remembering our lefts and rights. The roads are quiet hereabouts and lined with trees resplendent in their fresh frock coats.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZCmgKSUXH18?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br /><br />Switching on my autopilot I revert to my old friend, the skull cinema again. I love this Paul Simon song and now, with time on my hands I ponder the poignancy of these particular lines for this year's Challenge.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>'And I don't know a soul who's not been battered</i><br /><i>I don't have a friend who feels at ease</i><br /><i>I don't know a dream that's not been shattered or driven to its knees</i><br /><i>But it's alright, it's alright</i><br /><i>For we've lived so well so long</i><br /><i>Still, when I think of the road we're traveling on</i><br /><i>I wonder what's gone wrong</i><br /><i>I can't help it, I wonder what's gone wrong...'</i><br /><br />And with the tune fading away we come across one of the many war memorials scattered throughout the British Isles, and beyond; Each man missed dreadfully by his family for years after. Every year our politicians stand respectfully at the Cenotaph and the very next day continue with their warmongering.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lrPjo8TCpSw/WZXj8frasDI/AAAAAAAAlYM/t436CvUvenIcU9ygiqZQO_qcC0ZnR1arQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1138" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lrPjo8TCpSw/WZXj8frasDI/AAAAAAAAlYM/t436CvUvenIcU9ygiqZQO_qcC0ZnR1arQCKgBGAs/s640/1090533.jpg" width="454" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kyi6g0g6GhQ/WZXj8dn4M7I/AAAAAAAAlYM/2TVk5kJD3D49j7uNzMX-62rF4c4VDtLKgCKgBGAs/s1600/1090534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kyi6g0g6GhQ/WZXj8dn4M7I/AAAAAAAAlYM/2TVk5kJD3D49j7uNzMX-62rF4c4VDtLKgCKgBGAs/s640/1090534.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sn6qnq8y8C0/WZXj8VFytaI/AAAAAAAAlYM/HsYkICgyL4IlQqbrln7pqcEc5trcd2VygCKgBGAs/s1600/1090535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sn6qnq8y8C0/WZXj8VFytaI/AAAAAAAAlYM/HsYkICgyL4IlQqbrln7pqcEc5trcd2VygCKgBGAs/s640/1090535.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ET4Q1tCkJ5Y/WZXj8d4k4lI/AAAAAAAAlYM/UKyHQmZBjMY5th3MrGNXysJK4ikfETZWACKgBGAs/s1600/1090536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ET4Q1tCkJ5Y/WZXj8d4k4lI/AAAAAAAAlYM/UKyHQmZBjMY5th3MrGNXysJK4ikfETZWACKgBGAs/s640/1090536.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_Qf-N7wImYw/WZXj8WOti2I/AAAAAAAAlYM/AwD1EtY0KR0ruM3UG9iliqnJMg_j1g0LwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1423" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_Qf-N7wImYw/WZXj8WOti2I/AAAAAAAAlYM/AwD1EtY0KR0ruM3UG9iliqnJMg_j1g0LwCKgBGAs/s640/1090537.jpg" width="568" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MEJt0MZI8SU/WZXj8erqpzI/AAAAAAAAlYM/XvutzSUaIGwWU95Uo65iN-Zb_Vx5aZ1IgCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20170705_230707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1315" height="506" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MEJt0MZI8SU/WZXj8erqpzI/AAAAAAAAlYM/XvutzSUaIGwWU95Uo65iN-Zb_Vx5aZ1IgCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20170705_230707.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We arrive in Forfar for lunch and on the walk in try to remember Eric Morecambe's dream football result, to have been read out by James Alexander Gordon: "East Fife Four, Forfar Five".</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1t534whhUHU/WZXj8dDSeUI/AAAAAAAAlYM/7cKbzGQ5FeMfgf0uS26N9EiCBCmBvV0RgCKgBGAs/s1600/1090539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1270" data-original-width="1600" height="506" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1t534whhUHU/WZXj8dDSeUI/AAAAAAAAlYM/7cKbzGQ5FeMfgf0uS26N9EiCBCmBvV0RgCKgBGAs/s640/1090539.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">A good lunch just off the High Street followed by cashpoint machines for the B&amp;B and the cafe after our finish. Suitably fettled we're on our way again. Our next stop is a bench, promised to me by Lord Elpus, who has been this way on his long diagonal across Scotland from Torridon to Arbroath back in 2011. The plaque tells of an early Scottish tribal victory over an English tribe. Lord Elpus has more about it on his excellent account <a href="http://www.doodlecat.com/tgo/Phil%202011/day13.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. It's well worth reading, by the way.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gYzd7Srunmg/WZXj8RS24GI/AAAAAAAAlYM/v5iEqfTmPjMJQh6C9y4dZauSDOxUuj5VwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="1600" height="508" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gYzd7Srunmg/WZXj8RS24GI/AAAAAAAAlYM/v5iEqfTmPjMJQh6C9y4dZauSDOxUuj5VwCKgBGAs/s640/1090541.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YoFsVLki5nw/WZXj8SAmh8I/AAAAAAAAlYM/3p0J_yM5X6MK8CzWC1eTJJmXVLcuqhH0wCKgBGAs/s1600/1090545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YoFsVLki5nw/WZXj8SAmh8I/AAAAAAAAlYM/3p0J_yM5X6MK8CzWC1eTJJmXVLcuqhH0wCKgBGAs/s640/1090545.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nowhere is serving food on a Wednesday night in Letham so after a few quick pints in the pub David magics a takeaway which we have in the kitchen. It's an early night tonight because tomorrow night there's going to be a party and we need to be on top form.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*****</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In all my years crossing Scotland I'm ashamed to say I've never eaten a Bridie. This is put right this morning with the purchase of a steak bridie from the Keptie Bakery in Letham. Their bridies have won a gold award at the Scotch Pie Championship in 2014.<br /><br />I have to say it was bloody wonderful, and I shall be seeking them out for evermore. It fueled me to the brim for the twelve or so miles to the coast.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a4QFXYpVzes/WZXkmT98XBI/AAAAAAAAlYU/KAdGhV2f1pIfFnnvJavSm9HCp1ARnpAtwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="1600" height="456" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a4QFXYpVzes/WZXkmT98XBI/AAAAAAAAlYU/KAdGhV2f1pIfFnnvJavSm9HCp1ARnpAtwCKgBGAs/s640/1090547.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: justify;">There's a beautiful churchyard, well worth a stop, at Inverkeilor where the above photograph of Rufty-Tufty Mr Williams is taken. The day has turned out to be a scorcher and the shade is a welcome respite.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H9CqsFNw2a8/WZXkmXL_c0I/AAAAAAAAlYU/Ij2a4fXIQtsAtR2uWbux2ZP6iDNNGsxOACKgBGAs/s1600/1090548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="1600" height="446" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H9CqsFNw2a8/WZXkmXL_c0I/AAAAAAAAlYU/Ij2a4fXIQtsAtR2uWbux2ZP6iDNNGsxOACKgBGAs/s640/1090548.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VJIi6wSCi5U/WZXkmfkIwsI/AAAAAAAAlYU/8cntcQMUx-wK7FhjAcJakm7FZfl7trtVQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="1600" height="454" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VJIi6wSCi5U/WZXkmfkIwsI/AAAAAAAAlYU/8cntcQMUx-wK7FhjAcJakm7FZfl7trtVQCKgBGAs/s640/1090549.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally we stroll down the beach to the water's edge. The ruined Red Castle looks down at us as it has done for so many Challengers over the years.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j1d4sHiKOpc/WZXkmRuww4I/AAAAAAAAlYU/9N8x07-Pmakgv9kHLTXu-mxQb1Jp7MQNgCKgBGAs/s1600/1090553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="1600" height="496" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j1d4sHiKOpc/WZXkmRuww4I/AAAAAAAAlYU/9N8x07-Pmakgv9kHLTXu-mxQb1Jp7MQNgCKgBGAs/s640/1090553.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IdpgTmwvKK0/WZXkma_EXxI/AAAAAAAAlYU/W18lgFh9DQY53WcckVfiOHQGWxxyK3xEgCKgBGAs/s1600/1090551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="1600" height="466" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IdpgTmwvKK0/WZXkma_EXxI/AAAAAAAAlYU/W18lgFh9DQY53WcckVfiOHQGWxxyK3xEgCKgBGAs/s640/1090551.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">A few words about Mr Williams. Phil returning to Strathcarron on the first day had been one hell of a shock to me. In one stroke the dynamics of the walk had changed. Neither Phil nor I knew David particularly well, and I'm sure David felt the same about Phil and me. We had bumped into him quite a few times over the years and he had always been a bright, smiley chap with a keen wit. We both had him down as made of the right stuff: Perfect Challenger material, in fact.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Over the two weeks of this Challenge and the preceding PreWalkDaunder, which he had organised incredibly well, I think I've only scratched the surface trying to get to know him. From the stories he has shared with me he's a massively principled, bloody hard-working bright guy. He goes out of his way to make everyone around him comfortable - a skill that seems to come effortlessly to him.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He's as tough as old boots typified by our walk to the Airlie Memorial Tower when I was doggedly hanging on. But most of all, he's great fun to walk with.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In his last <a href="http://fellbound.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/challenge-reflections-on-2017-tgo.html?m=0" target="_blank">blog piece</a> on this walk, he says he's unlikely to come back on the Challenge. I wish over the next few weeks he rethinks that. The walk will be a poorer thing without him. The Challenge, as you'll have seen from this blog isn't just about grinding out long days against tight schedules. It can be riotous fun, wonderfully relaxing and a fantastic de-stresser for those who find responsibility thrust their way. Your only responsibility on the Challenge is to yourself, to make sure you have a bloody &nbsp;good time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And for that, David is supremely well equipped. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k_7ouXYnIg0/WZXkmQ9JnbI/AAAAAAAAlYU/7ALgFaPVynUdV2YHVVGai5WLJvcZavdNACKgBGAs/s1600/1090555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1393" data-original-width="1600" height="556" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k_7ouXYnIg0/WZXkmQ9JnbI/AAAAAAAAlYU/7ALgFaPVynUdV2YHVVGai5WLJvcZavdNACKgBGAs/s640/1090555.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HKNlyENhzNU/WZXkmRAECOI/AAAAAAAAlYU/_6eN5Rj03ikYaplqDCS0c5y8L5iksQK2wCKgBGAs/s1600/1090557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="638" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HKNlyENhzNU/WZXkmRAECOI/AAAAAAAAlYU/_6eN5Rj03ikYaplqDCS0c5y8L5iksQK2wCKgBGAs/s640/1090557.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eyFMfGWepqM/WZXkmWTgoEI/AAAAAAAAlYU/8qEG11rm-TQWf64M8W8v6YxsEZh8WtE_QCKgBGAs/s1600/1090559_20170702181304309_20170702181419288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1600" height="386" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eyFMfGWepqM/WZXkmWTgoEI/AAAAAAAAlYU/8qEG11rm-TQWf64M8W8v6YxsEZh8WtE_QCKgBGAs/s640/1090559_20170702181304309_20170702181419288.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Thanks David, for being a top bloke and making our walk such a success. And please, think again!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6YXgzLqZTTA/WZXkma7iyPI/AAAAAAAAlYU/jBnx1D3YtIk4lo1vJvh7cwxzKUS_3Y0mACKgBGAs/s1600/1090561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1171" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6YXgzLqZTTA/WZXkma7iyPI/AAAAAAAAlYU/jBnx1D3YtIk4lo1vJvh7cwxzKUS_3Y0mACKgBGAs/s640/1090561.jpg" width="468" /></a></div><br />Here are some tractors for Alan Rayner, found at Red Castle.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7TD-PFtysHw/WZXkmZB1qzI/AAAAAAAAlYU/ogtMAMs35OwIus3Fvt2byal7oS065FD1gCKgBGAs/s1600/1090562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1121" data-original-width="1600" height="280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7TD-PFtysHw/WZXkmZB1qzI/AAAAAAAAlYU/ogtMAMs35OwIus3Fvt2byal7oS065FD1gCKgBGAs/s400/1090562.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8EIOqHzTV_M/WZXkmQcHu6I/AAAAAAAAlYU/IYR9QLK6AqsrHdDEHCeFGrV4SZHyDkmTwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1250" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8EIOqHzTV_M/WZXkmQcHu6I/AAAAAAAAlYU/IYR9QLK6AqsrHdDEHCeFGrV4SZHyDkmTwCKgBGAs/s400/1090563.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8O_RbcLlLQg/WZXkmS_UygI/AAAAAAAAlYU/DMtgMMMbCEUZj9-pzgeHKeAIjCeChO9hQCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20170525_200629480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1600" height="418" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8O_RbcLlLQg/WZXkmS_UygI/AAAAAAAAlYU/DMtgMMMbCEUZj9-pzgeHKeAIjCeChO9hQCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20170525_200629480.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9kzzDZN7wC0/WZXkmReMohI/AAAAAAAAlYU/m7C8yYRGh_wPQn5E7Hk7MX5FnCs9_PvNQCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20170525_200652362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1357" data-original-width="1600" height="542" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9kzzDZN7wC0/WZXkmReMohI/AAAAAAAAlYU/m7C8yYRGh_wPQn5E7Hk7MX5FnCs9_PvNQCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20170525_200652362.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aye-Jd4CCGI/WZXkmdzixeI/AAAAAAAAlYU/lk4qGRzvUNgtz0WS5ZbfS4afwSTEz66RgCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20170525_211454355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1181" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aye-Jd4CCGI/WZXkmdzixeI/AAAAAAAAlYU/lk4qGRzvUNgtz0WS5ZbfS4afwSTEz66RgCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20170525_211454355.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The pictures above are from the Challenge Dinner at the Park Hotel. Every single one of these characters is made of the right stuff.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cwqhdRs4jyA?rel=0" width="640"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-15960236499780297082017-08-14T21:00:00.000+01:002017-08-14T21:00:07.456+01:00TGOC2017 Day 12: Fee Burn to Airlie Memorial Tower<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>or... A tougher day than expected</u></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Overnight our moor has been scrubbed clean and then hurled back inside an industrial washer for an extra rinse cycle. It's morning and we wake to air that brushes silently along flysheets, the kettle's steam slips across the porch to freedom. Everywhere is complete silence.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ckECh2Q64Y/WZBzaKBjsTI/AAAAAAAAlTQ/ueX5XxxyLXYkzyEszQUjfo9rRusYP9aFQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ckECh2Q64Y/WZBzaKBjsTI/AAAAAAAAlTQ/ueX5XxxyLXYkzyEszQUjfo9rRusYP9aFQCKgBGAs/s640/1090513.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE FEE BURN THE MORNING AFTER A WILD NIGHT&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZtrdEHR0GU/WZBzaA4mqUI/AAAAAAAAlTQ/Ntt7Q3-93wAHMYo3yBj_g_mBA6YxO-muwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="1600" height="458" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZtrdEHR0GU/WZBzaA4mqUI/AAAAAAAAlTQ/Ntt7Q3-93wAHMYo3yBj_g_mBA6YxO-muwCKgBGAs/s640/1090514.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FABULOUS MORNING FRESHNESS&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our storm-filled mossy mattress is slowly draining into the now bubbling caochan. It is a perfect Highland morning. Clean sunshine warms my chilled fingers as I fail to capture the feel of this place with my camera. I could happily spend the day right here, letting this place seep into my bones.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j8KL63r9Zcw?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br /><br />But the Challenge, our challenge to ourselves, insists that we move on. The route sheet states very simply that today is 24km with 750m of RouteBuddy ascent. We are to finish the day 450m lower down along this ridge, so that sounds good to me. It's all down hill...<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HzzhTsm0YXo/WZBzaP-yhXI/AAAAAAAAlTQ/z9NaKnyPSasnYoRle8F9LS6wSe59M1UjwCKgBGAs/s1600/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1600" height="450" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HzzhTsm0YXo/WZBzaP-yhXI/AAAAAAAAlTQ/z9NaKnyPSasnYoRle8F9LS6wSe59M1UjwCKgBGAs/s640/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FEE BURN CAMPSITE, BOTTOM RIGHT. [CLICK TO ENLARGE]</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ai86ccD1XvU/WZBzaGoRl2I/AAAAAAAAlTQ/KUawj3zY0i8tA8mkAV2oRWI0C-2kh7dwwCKgBGAs/s1600/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="1600" height="450" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ai86ccD1XvU/WZBzaGoRl2I/AAAAAAAAlTQ/KUawj3zY0i8tA8mkAV2oRWI0C-2kh7dwwCKgBGAs/s640/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B13.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CLICK TO ENLARGE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pt6X55Zbfg0/WZBzaM-4YgI/AAAAAAAAlTQ/t0NZGs_Eds4qPuah22NAgJGhGZPC-95LACKgBGAs/s1600/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1600" height="450" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pt6X55Zbfg0/WZBzaM-4YgI/AAAAAAAAlTQ/t0NZGs_Eds4qPuah22NAgJGhGZPC-95LACKgBGAs/s640/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AIRLIE TOWER CAMPSITE TOP CENTRE [CLICK TO ENLARGE]</td></tr></tbody></table><br />You'll notice that David is wrapped up warm. Underneath all that black clothing he's wearing his beautifully soft, cream Liberty Bodice. It helps with his posture.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bOb3Wo_Gtq8/WZBzaHAZHSI/AAAAAAAAlTQ/fxZEVg1euREqKba92pZgjvkVeR0IoibeACKgBGAs/s1600/1090515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1057" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bOb3Wo_Gtq8/WZBzaHAZHSI/AAAAAAAAlTQ/fxZEVg1euREqKba92pZgjvkVeR0IoibeACKgBGAs/s640/1090515.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MR WILLIAMS, FACING AWAY FROM THE FEE BURN.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Strolling up Mayar - it really is a stroll - we have a spring in our step. Compared to some of the monster days we've had on this trip, this day looks to be comfortable. I have visions of lazing around the Airlie Memorial Tower mid to late afternoon. I'm in a very happy place.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eHTrWw_9QRQ/WZBzaNWd43I/AAAAAAAAlTQ/JLGfrdili2kgtMTkZY2cVKvpnKA7F0_cgCKgBGAs/s1600/1090516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eHTrWw_9QRQ/WZBzaNWd43I/AAAAAAAAlTQ/JLGfrdili2kgtMTkZY2cVKvpnKA7F0_cgCKgBGAs/s640/1090516.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ZOOMING INTO LOCHNAGAR</td></tr></tbody></table><br />All around the views are fabulous. This is what the TGO Challenge is about. This is why I come back year after year. This is backpacking heaven. David is also grinning; I've never seen him so grinny! We're on top of Mayar, our first Munro of the day, before 8:30 in the morning. We have the place to ourselves. In the far, far distance, at the very end of our ridge, we can just make out the needle that is our destination - the Airlie Memorial Tower.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1n-UpROnFXM/WZBzaA7FxGI/AAAAAAAAlTQ/lsxt0cL7_XYN2u6hHCjscgQ65xdwXsZ9gCKgBGAs/s1600/1090517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1n-UpROnFXM/WZBzaA7FxGI/AAAAAAAAlTQ/lsxt0cL7_XYN2u6hHCjscgQ65xdwXsZ9gCKgBGAs/s640/1090517.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RUFTY TUFTY ON MAYAR [928M] &nbsp;1ST MUNRO OF THE DAY AT 8:30AM&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IRJF7hqdqxE/WZBzaK_xnaI/AAAAAAAAlTQ/DG38SlqGnpMMl36FN02C6axilFlkbPXTgCKgBGAs/s1600/1090519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IRJF7hqdqxE/WZBzaK_xnaI/AAAAAAAAlTQ/DG38SlqGnpMMl36FN02C6axilFlkbPXTgCKgBGAs/s640/1090519.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ZOOMING TO MT KEEN</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We take lots of pictures. I have a strange flashback to my first TGO Challenge, back to 1995 with my tiny Pentax compact film camera with one spare roll of 36 pictures. That worked out at about five pictures a day.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ypI3U5EHSxY/WZBzaFPK4pI/AAAAAAAAlTQ/bMgXo2Oc9RcFrBDAlzzHnXRrJcD0rqPuwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1600" height="450" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ypI3U5EHSxY/WZBzaFPK4pI/AAAAAAAAlTQ/bMgXo2Oc9RcFrBDAlzzHnXRrJcD0rqPuwCKgBGAs/s640/1090520.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CAIRN, MAYER</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The video, below, was taken on Mayar. It's simply a 360 degree pan from the cairn. I've watched it a few times since I've been home; It makes me smile every time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WSvcNDlV1iE?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">VIDEO FROM MAYAR</span></div><br /><br />It's a fine stroll of just a couple of miles over to our next Munro, Driesh and the views to either side of our ridge are uplifting. The pull up to Driesh actually feels good - my legs want to push, they want the effort as the rewards are so splendid.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xZjkp3n7fMg/WZB0DLPDoQI/AAAAAAAAlTY/xGJBLl_TWooZ39_1r7dQvdVgFzKQcZacQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xZjkp3n7fMg/WZB0DLPDoQI/AAAAAAAAlTY/xGJBLl_TWooZ39_1r7dQvdVgFzKQcZacQCKgBGAs/s640/1090521.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOOKING INTO COIRE KILBO &amp; GLEN DOLL</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We take a leisurely second breakfast sheltered from the cold wind. A vacant perusal of the map throws up an oddity; To the south of us is Glenclova Forest, which is mildly confusing, as it is actually in Glen Prosen. Glen Clova is to the north of us. I wonder to myself if this is one of those deliberate Ordnance Survey cartographic cock-ups, designed to take out opposition map makers in court?<br /><br />Any knowledgeable types who feel they have the answer, please leave a message in the comments section. Thank you!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Cm59qO-TiE/WZB0DO9rcBI/AAAAAAAAlTY/h9vFZAmi-VceoFmCgl4NDfa8YZW1v7qWwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Cm59qO-TiE/WZB0DO9rcBI/AAAAAAAAlTY/h9vFZAmi-VceoFmCgl4NDfa8YZW1v7qWwCKgBGAs/s640/1090522.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SHELTER ATOP MUNRO DRIESH [947M]&nbsp;@ 10AM</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Before setting off, we make out the Airlie Tower once again. Strangely, it seems no nearer. The going hereabouts is good to firm and we positively canter, to start with, down the eastern slopes of Driesh to the bealach above Corrie of Farchal. Then it becomes a very careful step by step lowering down very steep slopes. All quite unnecessarily so, if you ask my knees.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z4KiFQd7C9U/WZB0DETIIII/AAAAAAAAlTY/cHTXQGJevDY3BG4GmwDPQBEB2UDkuECtACKgBGAs/s1600/1090523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1600" height="432" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z4KiFQd7C9U/WZB0DETIIII/AAAAAAAAlTY/cHTXQGJevDY3BG4GmwDPQBEB2UDkuECtACKgBGAs/s640/1090523.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOOKING EAST ACROSS CORRIE OF FARCHAL INTO GLEN CLOVA</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Of course, this very steep slope down is immediately followed by an equally unnecessarily steep grind back up hill to gain the Hill of Strone. This, surely, is not what we ordered! Someone should take it back immediately and return with more gentler inclines. This is a beastly five hundred foot grind.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y8yn4UHUjZ4/WZB0DBshlZI/AAAAAAAAlTY/fCFmiLPWBVU71ceKrrYdzJ-T2fsPDPh1gCKgBGAs/s1600/1090524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y8yn4UHUjZ4/WZB0DBshlZI/AAAAAAAAlTY/fCFmiLPWBVU71ceKrrYdzJ-T2fsPDPh1gCKgBGAs/s640/1090524.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOCHNAGAR ON FAR SKYLINE, AND ACHARN IN GLEN DOLL TO THE RIGHT</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I resort to the old hillman's trick of taking photographs of the view to regain composure and wipe the sweat from my brow. The faint path misses out the cairn atop Hill of Strone but I can tell that David needs it (He's done all the Wainwrights, you know, almost twice...) and so we walk to the very top and touch the cairn. It's what Baggers do. From the picture below you can see that he is delighted. It must be on some list or other. In fact, we go to every single cairn today on this ridge.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XqKZdfHHM7w/WZB0DEJbrcI/AAAAAAAAlTY/ce5H67lbNL0pxtUY7o3Zn0B4OP3dCfQRACKgBGAs/s1600/1090525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XqKZdfHHM7w/WZB0DEJbrcI/AAAAAAAAlTY/ce5H67lbNL0pxtUY7o3Zn0B4OP3dCfQRACKgBGAs/s640/1090525.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HILL OF STRONE [850M]</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The views from this ridge are far reaching, with May's donkey-brown hills stretching in every direction. However, beneath our feet there's a riot of colour that makes for soft footfalls. My skull cinema plays a loop of David Bellamy on his knees, burying his fingers up to his knuckles in the mat.<br /><br />The Airlie Memorial Tower is still a very long way off. It seems to be walking at the same speed as us, away from us.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7R8YArsy7BM/WZB0DEgJMCI/AAAAAAAAlTY/2x6HLvsn7-UlqDy2COO_P-tjsd0drVapwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7R8YArsy7BM/WZB0DEgJMCI/AAAAAAAAlTY/2x6HLvsn7-UlqDy2COO_P-tjsd0drVapwCKgBGAs/s640/1090526.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CARPET OF FLOWERS&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br />It's another very steep drop down from Cairn Inks to the bealach above the Clova Hotel. If you ask me, this is a very poorly arranged ridge. It's not yet midday but here we take a break. As you can see from the picture below, the Clova Hotel is within touching distance. In just half an hour and a gentle stroll down a soft hillside, instead of chewing slightly stale pita bread we could be enjoying a fine lunch and a few thirst-quenching pints. If Lord Elpus was here right now, there would be no more of this fierce up and down nastinesses...<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ey9Sn0WMTf4/WZB0DPDJCMI/AAAAAAAAlTY/me0W8xAHNYMgQGoWNqe3k8uIg3RQueYIwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ey9Sn0WMTf4/WZB0DPDJCMI/AAAAAAAAlTY/me0W8xAHNYMgQGoWNqe3k8uIg3RQueYIwCKgBGAs/s640/1090527.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOOKING TO CLOVA HOTEL</td></tr></tbody></table><br />However, David has the bit between his teeth. He's in Rufty-Tufty Bastard mode and I can see he wants this ridge. As we begin the three hundred foot clamber up Cairn of Barns, I look back wistfully to the hotel. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ejUmvOAyG4/WZB0DNwHqoI/AAAAAAAAlTY/kjD2rODqEBkd3LNrdiW-0gae3TEaafpTACKgBGAs/s1600/1090528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ejUmvOAyG4/WZB0DNwHqoI/AAAAAAAAlTY/kjD2rODqEBkd3LNrdiW-0gae3TEaafpTACKgBGAs/s640/1090528.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CAIRN OF BARNS [651M]</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The next four kilometres are very hard work. The path peters out and we're forcing our way through heather, alongside wire fencing. We're tiring and just in time David stops me from heading down a wrong spur. At Coremachy, our vetter has suggested we head towards Elf Hillock to collect the path rising from Glen Clova. On the ground we don't like the look of this advice as the ground to be covered looks as rough as hell. We have an aerial view of the ground between us and the path junction we need a mile or so distant and so in preference we head down steep ground to collect the stream that heads to our destination. This is better. We're trackless and picking our way along a break of slope and stream bank to stay on drier ground. I love this stuff, but it is knackering. Driesh, a long way behind us now, seems like a colossal lump. She's an imposing hill.<br /><br />On reaching the path we take a break. We're both tired and looking at my watch I realise that we have still over five miles to go with about 250m of ascent and so my dream of an early finish has evaporated. We also have to drop from the ridge quite a way to collect water for tonight's camp. Thankfully we're now back on good paths.<br /><br />It's time to knuckle down and get it done. This last section isn't fun, which is a shame as I'm sure the walking is fine at any other time of the day. It's a long way down the side of the hill to collect tonight's water from the small trickle and a longer trudge back up to our rucsacs.<br />&nbsp;<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rGeWOlcpak4/WZB0DP4zD4I/AAAAAAAAlTY/bzv7IzlmLCEFomTN8ywT_s34sjO7F7UKACKgBGAs/s1600/1090529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1599" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rGeWOlcpak4/WZB0DP4zD4I/AAAAAAAAlTY/bzv7IzlmLCEFomTN8ywT_s34sjO7F7UKACKgBGAs/s640/1090529.jpg" width="638" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AIRLIE MEMORIAL TOWER. SMALL, OR FAR AWAY?</td></tr></tbody></table><br />How David remains so cheerful is a mystery. He's a strong chap and I coattail him to the Airlie Memorial Tower. I'm just about all-in when we get here. We pitch in as good a place as possible. It's been a ten hour day and much tougher than I had expected.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fgVgvxw2xTo/WZB0DNsRheI/AAAAAAAAlTY/UGj3sNGKCxc0w41kB3nwM7Q8iuttZxR0wCKgBGAs/s1600/1090532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1241" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fgVgvxw2xTo/WZB0DNsRheI/AAAAAAAAlTY/UGj3sNGKCxc0w41kB3nwM7Q8iuttZxR0wCKgBGAs/s640/1090532.jpg" width="496" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AIRLIE MEMORIAL TOWER AT THE END OF A LONG DAY</td></tr></tbody></table><br />But this is no time to be down-hearted! I empty my food bag and scavenge for happy food; chocolate and tasty things, and wash it down with a few glugs of Bowmore lung-inflator. That's considerably better. In fact, things aren't bad at all. I set about making dinner, a Real Turmat job. Happiness.<br /><br />It's been an interesting day. This morning we were in the heart of mountainous country, camped up in a glorious spot, away from everything and everyone. Now, we're camped at the very edge of the coastal plain. This is dog-walking country and a place for family picnics.<br /><br />Drifting off to sleep I spool back through the day. <i>'Bloody well done, Al',</i> I think to myself. And <i>'I'm bloody glad that's over!'</i></div>Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-92051600453842380992017-08-11T00:15:00.000+01:002017-08-11T00:15:33.467+01:00TGOC2017, Days 10 & 11: Braemar to the Fee Burn<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-size: large;">DAY 10, SUNDAY: BRAEMAR TO LOCHCALLATER LODGE</span></u></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Back in the mists of time Lord Elpus and I worked on the thorny problem of the venue for this year's Cheese &amp; Wine Party. Traditionally it is held in a remote spot, to ensure that only Challengers made of the right stuff attend, so everyone rubs along well together. In December of last year Lord E put the following invitation on the Challenge Message Board.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ol8gFeS9DGM/WYuC4WLx0_I/AAAAAAAAlPY/YH3gjqwavysXLB484nzsRDStfNfd0sPwwCKgBGAs/s1600/Cheese%2BAnd%2BWine%2BInvite%2B2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1300" height="538" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ol8gFeS9DGM/WYuC4WLx0_I/AAAAAAAAlPY/YH3gjqwavysXLB484nzsRDStfNfd0sPwwCKgBGAs/s640/Cheese%2BAnd%2BWine%2BInvite%2B2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE INVITATION POSTED ON THE CHALLENGE MESSAGE BOARD, 1ST DECEMBER 2016</td></tr></tbody></table><br />As you can see, the party is scheduled for Monday night, high up on the ridge on the south side of Glen Doll. Right now, it's Sunday morning and we're about to check out of our B&amp;B. It's our last chance to check on the weather forecast. Today we're heading to Lochcallater Lodge. However, tomorrow (Monday) the route is high and wild on the way to the C&amp;W party.<br /><br />The forecast at 9:50am this morning for tomorrow says the day will start with blustery winds and showers, strengthening in the afternoon, followed by gale force winds, rain and thunderstorms in the evening and night. These are pretty poor conditions for a Cheese and Wine Party.<br /><br />We never know who is likely to turn up and first-time Challengers are told that they are particularly welcome as they are the lifeblood of the Challenge. Without first-timers, in very short order there would be no TGO Challenge. Based upon the forecast and the fact that I do not know the party-goers' experience of camping in dreadful conditions I decide to cancel the party on grounds of safety. The Challenge has an enviable safety record and I don't want to ruin it. I ring Challenge Control and ask them to let as many people know as possible and I also post a message on the Challenge Message Board.<br /><br />At the moment our own plan for Monday is to nip up and do three of the four Munros and in the afternoon slip down into Glen Prosen and camp near Kilbo before the weather turns really nasty. We now have plenty of time in Braemar to let as many Challengers know as possible that the party is off.<br /><br />We leave our B&amp;B a little downhearted and head into the metropolis that is Braemar for coffee, cake, some retail therapy and a spot of lunch. This is very cheerful stuff and in no time at all we are both proud owners of new hats that David says are perfect copies of the Afrika Korps cap. Mine is a dusty blue, whereas his is desert sand. I'll leave that with you.<br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PWj1RdxAh8M/WYsqqhr8Y3I/AAAAAAAAlM4/329uOjkm4hY_mqU_BcoiSIpA_ohazs6cACKgBGAs/s1600/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="1600" height="450" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PWj1RdxAh8M/WYsqqhr8Y3I/AAAAAAAAlM4/329uOjkm4hY_mqU_BcoiSIpA_ohazs6cACKgBGAs/s640/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CLICK TO ENLARGE. [FOLLOWING 'SUNDAY FWA']</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Having filled my new-this-year rucsac to the brim with pork pies, pita bread, cakes, cheese and chocolate bars I haul it from the ground and promptly tear the rear mesh pocket on the very fierce pointy wall of Braemar Mountain Sports. Tenacious tape does the job and so at least now she looks broken-in. Deep inside I'm silently heartbroken.<br /><br />It's a pleasant stroll up the golf course road and then along the track up Glen Callater, which seems to get slightly longer with each passing year before Lochcallater Lodge hoves into view. What a fabulous location!<br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDNP5QXQ9jg/WYsrw7ug7mI/AAAAAAAAlNA/yPHHgNdZV1MJJY6cif8DiU9T6_CqwIa2ACKgBGAs/s1600/1090478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="1600" height="446" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDNP5QXQ9jg/WYsrw7ug7mI/AAAAAAAAlNA/yPHHgNdZV1MJJY6cif8DiU9T6_CqwIa2ACKgBGAs/s640/1090478.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOCHCALLATER LODGE, WITH THE MBA BOTHY ON THE LEFT</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1uCE3nBwKwM/WYsrwyKn08I/AAAAAAAAlNA/zriDUOEoxNA_8MBnTIcDHsE-sIJRoS_2wCKgBGAs/s1600/1090479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="1600" height="430" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1uCE3nBwKwM/WYsrwyKn08I/AAAAAAAAlNA/zriDUOEoxNA_8MBnTIcDHsE-sIJRoS_2wCKgBGAs/s640/1090479.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A SHELTERED SPOT</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There's a fine complement of lightweight shelters already pitched next to the lodge and so we cast about further afield, away from the snorers to find a sheltered spot a hundred yards past the lodge.&nbsp;</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v-dGzdOw8HI/WYsrw641RCI/AAAAAAAAlNA/IiaPPODgP7UxILuNKzncE5oJYiua6LJWACKgBGAs/s1600/1090480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="1600" height="444" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v-dGzdOw8HI/WYsrw641RCI/AAAAAAAAlNA/IiaPPODgP7UxILuNKzncE5oJYiua6LJWACKgBGAs/s640/1090480.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOCHCALLATER LODGE KITCHEN, WITH MICHAEL IN COMMAND. NOTE: THE LODGE IS LIT BY GAS LAMPS</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We spend a wonderful evening in the lodge, fed like kings by Michael Glass and the whole party is run like a swiss watch by Bill Duncan. Chaps are playing with their instruments in the kitchen and there's singing and entertainment in the sitting room cum bar.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gsC4kf6x_Q0?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br /><br />I'm only ever a year away from the Lodge but at each visit old friends pick up where they left off like it was yesterday.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RL9ED85l3-c/WYsrw08a36I/AAAAAAAAlNA/7-oZP8tIb-0nRBV9iw0dw6qmYroVtexIACKgBGAs/s1600/1090493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RL9ED85l3-c/WYsrw08a36I/AAAAAAAAlNA/7-oZP8tIb-0nRBV9iw0dw6qmYroVtexIACKgBGAs/s640/1090493.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BECOMING COLD &amp; GUSTY. RAIN ON THE WAY</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pg_1O0YQk8M/WYsrw8eMSDI/AAAAAAAAlNA/C3iyGU8F1xAokBDLlXkouDyNajhsfCm-wCKgBGAs/s1600/1090491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1216" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pg_1O0YQk8M/WYsrw8eMSDI/AAAAAAAAlNA/C3iyGU8F1xAokBDLlXkouDyNajhsfCm-wCKgBGAs/s640/1090491.jpg" width="486" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LEFT TO RIGHT: IAN COTTERILL, THE PIEMAN, AND BILL DUNCAN</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wbouTQm--W4/WYstx8xpQ-I/AAAAAAAAlNM/O7JCYz9CzeQJX-vXOWxFqbarZPt5LzvgQCKgBGAs/s1600/_DSF6488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wbouTQm--W4/WYstx8xpQ-I/AAAAAAAAlNM/O7JCYz9CzeQJX-vXOWxFqbarZPt5LzvgQCKgBGAs/s640/_DSF6488.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IAN COTTERILL'S PICTURE. &nbsp;LOCHCALLATER LODGE. L&gt;R: SABINE A COUPLE I REALLY OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO NAME , THEN JAMES KNIPE AND ME</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />A huge thankyou to Bill and Michael for their friendship and incredible hospitality. I know of no-one and nowhere else like &nbsp;it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">***</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-size: large;">DAY 11, MONDAY: LOCHCALLATER LODGE TO THE FEE BURN</span></u></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">From Callater Lodge the party drawn from all points west splits into myriad routes eastward. Some fly in the direction of Carn an t-Sagairt Mor and Dubh Loch others to Lochnagar, a few to Broad Cairn, another handful over Jocks Road, some cut through the hills to Ballater but our merry band head mostly south. That's an odd direction for people who are walking to the east coast, but there you are.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p2UfYNiqnOA/WYs-kFi4gHI/AAAAAAAAlOM/RhuyE28Z_dcb92343XZf_B40RjFOGubfgCKgBGAs/s1600/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="1600" height="450" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p2UfYNiqnOA/WYs-kFi4gHI/AAAAAAAAlOM/RhuyE28Z_dcb92343XZf_B40RjFOGubfgCKgBGAs/s640/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CLICK TO ENLARGE [FOLLOWING 'MONDAY 18KM, 830M']</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f0vKt2AE1kQ/WYs-kNtbNzI/AAAAAAAAlOM/x8NfjX2PLO4UDJE9KMxr6R910hMffHaOQCKgBGAs/s1600/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1600" height="450" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f0vKt2AE1kQ/WYs-kNtbNzI/AAAAAAAAlOM/x8NfjX2PLO4UDJE9KMxr6R910hMffHaOQCKgBGAs/s640/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CLICK TO ENLARGE [FOLLOWING 'MONDAY 18KM, 830M']</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />There are five happy souls on our route today - David and me, (Of course. We're still on speaking terms) a very capable and likeable Mike Jones from Wales, and Rosie &amp; Dickie Fuell. Quite a few Challenges ago Dickie saved our skins in a beleaguered, packed Gelder Shiel bothy in the teeth of a hurricane. And he is to be a life-saver today as well. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vmDDOFXSgAs?rel=0" width="640"></iframe></div><br />It's a walk up a land rover track virtually all the way to the top of our first Munro, Carn an Tuirc. Of course, there are grunty sections, as Landrovers can scamper up virtually anything. We, on the other hand slow to a steady crawl up those sections.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H23998GFAIc/WYsxl86eEWI/AAAAAAAAlNg/1ukTvXix1xgKCx4iJqc5t31QIEg_k4G4wCKgBGAs/s1600/1090495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1052" data-original-width="1600" height="420" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H23998GFAIc/WYsxl86eEWI/AAAAAAAAlNg/1ukTvXix1xgKCx4iJqc5t31QIEg_k4G4wCKgBGAs/s640/1090495.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOOKING BACK DOWN TO LOCHCALLATER LODGE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I6LAMxRma_s/WYsxlxPMnwI/AAAAAAAAlNg/h5DdkmTHMjg_qv1c4q7byy2YO1kh6_eaACKgBGAs/s1600/1090494_20170701115326995_20170701115511619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="1600" height="376" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I6LAMxRma_s/WYsxlxPMnwI/AAAAAAAAlNg/h5DdkmTHMjg_qv1c4q7byy2YO1kh6_eaACKgBGAs/s640/1090494_20170701115326995_20170701115511619.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GRITTY, IF POORLY PROCESSED SHOT OF RUFTY-TUFTY BASTARD DAVID</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This year Dickie is carrying a water filter the size of a diver's oxygen tank. He has lugged this all the way across Scotland. I know this because he certainly had it on Day 1 from Plockton, as <a href="https://blogpackinglight.wordpress.com/2017/05/30/tgo-challenge-2017-day-1/" target="_blank">Robin Evans availed himself of its life-saving effusions. </a>&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today is a long stretch of upland and after we had emptied our water bottles with the biggest drink a chap can decently take, Dickie very kindly pumped us litres of water to refill our bottles from a peat ditch. It was all done with very little fuss and remarkably quickly. If he comes across this post he may like to leave a comment, as from what he says the logic of carrying such a beast means you carry less weight, not more.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eUW8GXmLDeA/WYsxl9aRElI/AAAAAAAAlNg/gWhHlQhwHX45o1Rn55pVyIFtvFfp3KfAQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eUW8GXmLDeA/WYsxl9aRElI/AAAAAAAAlNg/gWhHlQhwHX45o1Rn55pVyIFtvFfp3KfAQCKgBGAs/s640/1090497.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ROSIE &amp; DICKIE FUELL</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x1IxpBsojrk/WYsxlx-kioI/AAAAAAAAlNg/j4lJANvel2sEMpErRpLCmwEjfZwtSzqrgCKgBGAs/s1600/1090496_20170630190647419_20170630190755552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x1IxpBsojrk/WYsxlx-kioI/AAAAAAAAlNg/j4lJANvel2sEMpErRpLCmwEjfZwtSzqrgCKgBGAs/s640/1090496_20170630190647419_20170630190755552.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FIRST-TIMER MIKE JONES &amp; DAVID, WITH MAGNIFICENT COIRE LOCH KANDER BEHIND</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Knowing that the weather is going belly up and all rather quickly, I am in two minds whether or not to head over very rocky ground for our first Munro, Carn of Tuirc, as it's an out and back trip. But, because it's there and we're almost within touching distance, it seems rude not to. And so we do. Is it worth it? I'm not a bagger and the views are not that marvelous but it is a bit of fun. Fun. Ah yes. I remember...</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mj4SCRqJYlo/WYsxl3FAE8I/AAAAAAAAlNg/eJSIleO6uHUaovIWgDguOz6P9FI7xO2JQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1600" height="452" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mj4SCRqJYlo/WYsxl3FAE8I/AAAAAAAAlNg/eJSIleO6uHUaovIWgDguOz6P9FI7xO2JQCKgBGAs/s640/1090499.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MIKE JONES, ROSIE, DAVID &amp; DICKIE ATOP MUNRO CARN AN TUIRC (1019M)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And now the clag sweeps in and it's quite a bit colder, and wetter. But we head back across the moonscape and head for the next blighter: Cairn of Claise a couple of miles away. Compasses are employed for the first time on the Challenge. Strangely, very few of us seem to be navigating. This often happens in groups! Still, very little can go wrong up here. The Baggers' paths lead you in the right direction.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VMa1bcNgMSk/WYsxl3kTPKI/AAAAAAAAlNg/E6qwTg8PtMcxAKAvFyZwSuf1D--Hu9YNgCKgBGAs/s1600/1090500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1600" height="450" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VMa1bcNgMSk/WYsxl3kTPKI/AAAAAAAAlNg/E6qwTg8PtMcxAKAvFyZwSuf1D--Hu9YNgCKgBGAs/s640/1090500.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MIKE &amp; DAVID, MUNRO CAIRN OF CLAISE (1064M) WEATHER TURNING...</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bFzlrqhIOmI/WYs0Bz6UevI/AAAAAAAAlNs/8wWErbm2G74QOaWdOyVBDO9bp8YeYTkQwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bFzlrqhIOmI/WYs0Bz6UevI/AAAAAAAAlNs/8wWErbm2G74QOaWdOyVBDO9bp8YeYTkQwCKgBGAs/s640/1090501.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ROSIE &amp; DICKIE, CAIRN OF CLAISE</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: justify;">This is a bigger blighter at 1064m (For the metrically challenged, that's almost 3,500 feet up) It's another jumble of boulders to get there but this time there is a tear in the clouds and there's actually a great view down into Caen Lochan Glen.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ud5Uyx6B8NE/WYs0B9CyVfI/AAAAAAAAlNs/s4BqcZ1DBhM7vljqIrIzzvL94gyEE9uLACKgBGAs/s1600/1090502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ud5Uyx6B8NE/WYs0B9CyVfI/AAAAAAAAlNs/s4BqcZ1DBhM7vljqIrIzzvL94gyEE9uLACKgBGAs/s640/1090502.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A BRIEF, SNATCHED VIEW FROM CAIRN OF CLAISE, LOOKING SOUTH INTO CAEN LOCHAN GLEN</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">A small wall that leads to the cairn gives a modicum of shelter but we don't stop for too long as it's a bit nippy. But there's always enough time for a Leerdammer and pita sandwich, stuffed with dark chocolate.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qTw-rhQ9jW4/WYs0B9LCcFI/AAAAAAAAlNs/Q2vnzX7VMxk2aLMjsTgKdFDqNCzbptsAQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qTw-rhQ9jW4/WYs0B9LCcFI/AAAAAAAAlNs/Q2vnzX7VMxk2aLMjsTgKdFDqNCzbptsAQCKgBGAs/s640/1090503.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DICKIE, ROSIE &amp; DAVID. CAIRN OF CLAISE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">At this point we finally head east for the first time today, down a long delightfully soft slope. We briefly drop beneath the cloud, with the views now only hampered by strengthening rain and wind. Back in Braemar we had decided to cut Tolmount out of today's schedule and it's the right thing to do as the weather is now not so great.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u6LglNtrmNU/WYs0B0LdGQI/AAAAAAAAlNs/LD-QxA3IKrgM2SKC9p8la9FJFr9viGurgCKgBGAs/s1600/1090504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u6LglNtrmNU/WYs0B0LdGQI/AAAAAAAAlNs/LD-QxA3IKrgM2SKC9p8la9FJFr9viGurgCKgBGAs/s640/1090504.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DAVID, HEADING TO OUR NEXT MUNRO.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's now gone midday and it's pretty shitty weather, so I let everyone know that once we're over the other side of our next Munro, Tom Buidhe - an easy job at a mere 957m - I'll put Trinie Trailstar up for a bit of shelter so we can have lunch in some comfort. This certainly lifts my spirits and I hope others' too.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tom Buidhe really is a doddle and at the top, in the pouring rain we meet a real-live Munro Bagger in the flesh, and he very kindly takes our group photo with my camera. Then he fairly gallops away in the direction of Glen Callater, muttering something about mad dogs and Englishmen out in a midday storm...</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nEk-yNnmdr4/WYs0B67YV-I/AAAAAAAAlNs/AtwBYPW4V_AvsG9rDtFrKcHFFauYlzCVwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="1600" height="356" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nEk-yNnmdr4/WYs0B67YV-I/AAAAAAAAlNs/AtwBYPW4V_AvsG9rDtFrKcHFFauYlzCVwCKgBGAs/s640/1090507.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UNPLEASANT WEATHER ATOP MUNRO TOM BUIDHE (957M)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m4qx96Hy-Js/WYs0B25wriI/AAAAAAAAlNs/YueNOXAv1R8RCrje-DP4OuLqnWyhn3CAQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="977" data-original-width="1600" height="390" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m4qx96Hy-Js/WYs0B25wriI/AAAAAAAAlNs/YueNOXAv1R8RCrje-DP4OuLqnWyhn3CAQCKgBGAs/s640/1090508.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE SCENERY HEREABOUTS. EASY WALKING, DRY UNDERFOOT</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's an easy gambol down the slopes of Tom Buidhe and in the rain David and I have Trinnie up in a flash, whilest Dickie heads off with his filter and our water bottles to replenish supplies for lunch. That man really is a star.<br /><br />You've never seen 'The Famous Five in a Trailstar', have you? That's probably because it's a bit of a squeeze, and even Enid, who apparently liked a bit of bodily contact might have thought that this was beyond the pale. However, we are out of the wind and rain. Halfway through lunch the wind and rain stop and blue skies appear. Still, it was a good break.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qXxoNqMVLQs/WYs3HV7I_oI/AAAAAAAAlN8/USRrGrF93483gqMf1rFga4g4AsJmF_cKwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="1600" height="396" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qXxoNqMVLQs/WYs3HV7I_oI/AAAAAAAAlN8/USRrGrF93483gqMf1rFga4g4AsJmF_cKwCKgBGAs/s640/1090509.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">POST LUNCH, HAPPY, ABOUT TO HEAD FOR LITTLE KILRANNOCH</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The next section, over Little Kilrannoch and Dun Hillocks is an absolute delight. I dawdle a little on this section as the sun is out, the larks are singing their little hearts out and navigation's an absolute breeze. This is perfect Challenge walking. Up high, great views, easy going underfoot, and mostly downhill.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h_25FU-bXZQ/WYs3HdSMDFI/AAAAAAAAlN8/mw_mO5oc9lU8rblvNIie9Az7o1wruIHoACKgBGAs/s1600/1090510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h_25FU-bXZQ/WYs3HdSMDFI/AAAAAAAAlN8/mw_mO5oc9lU8rblvNIie9Az7o1wruIHoACKgBGAs/s640/1090510.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MIKE JONES. DUN HILLOCKS</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We are now in sight of the Fee Burn, our proposed location for the Cheese &amp; Wine Party. David and I decide to go down and take a look at the site, as neither of us have been this way before. Aware of the forecast, Mike, and Dickie &amp; Rosie decide to carry on over Mayar and then drop down to a valley, but we let them know that we may actually stop here. We say our goodbyes and head off down the Fee Burn, which is &nbsp;bloody good walking.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2u17ZcYCna4/WYs3Hayu3zI/AAAAAAAAlN8/pLsbK22--G85I5t9Kmd2D3N9jj8aHPAwQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="1600" height="472" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2u17ZcYCna4/WYs3Hayu3zI/AAAAAAAAlN8/pLsbK22--G85I5t9Kmd2D3N9jj8aHPAwQCKgBGAs/s640/1090511.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DICKIE &amp; ROSIE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">By good fortune the Fee Burn is an absolutely brilliant spot for a Cheese and Wine Party. There's lots of good water and plenty of excellent spots to pitch shelters.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Both David and I are still concerned that some Challengers may not have got the news that the party has been canceled. This helps us make up our minds. We'll camp right here, so if anyone does turn up we can have a makeshift party. Our own shelters are pretty bombproof and so the forecast weather shouldn't be a problem for us.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2NmZY6_OTcQ/WYs3HUbaLlI/AAAAAAAAlN8/u9fhLthe6hAPjbs8YIUG2TBH3hreZFSxgCKgBGAs/s1600/1090512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2NmZY6_OTcQ/WYs3HUbaLlI/AAAAAAAAlN8/u9fhLthe6hAPjbs8YIUG2TBH3hreZFSxgCKgBGAs/s640/1090512.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE FEE BURN (TAKEN NEXT MORNING)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />This is possibly the best stop of our whole trip. We're in a reasonably sheltered spot on soft dry-ish flat turf with a gurgling stream beside us. At the moment the weather is glorious. It's still early afternoon and I have a wonderful late afternoon doze, polish off an enormous rather tasty meal and then slide into blissful slumber.<br /><br />I'm aware at some point in the night that it is absolutely heaving it down - it's the noise that wakes me, but Trinnie is rock solid and so I slide back into Audrey's arms to get back to where we had left off.<br /><br />All in all, a fabulous day, done.</div>Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-77544042711273760912017-08-07T22:06:00.005+01:002017-08-08T08:29:37.255+01:00TGO Challenge 2017, Days 8 & 9: Aviemore to Braemar<div style="text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-size: large;">DAY 8, FRIDAY: AVIEMORE TO GLEANN LAOIGH BHEAG</span></u></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thankfully, the weather forecast isn't too bad; it's certainly good enough to abandon any thoughts of our very lengthy (60km) Foul Weather Alternative of two days to Braemar via Glen Feshie. It's overcast with showers later. Hopefully, by then we'll be over the top and heading downhill.<br /><br />But today's not plain sailing by any means. We've just had two very long days and so we're starting today's sixteen or seventeen miles over the Lairig Ghru with those 60km still in our legs. Thankfully David's jelly-legs and my dodgy knee seem to be holding up remarkably well.<br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kpez5VJDPnc/WYeFo18GxyI/AAAAAAAAlJI/BxhNlbOy70w48cXtZS7r_M3TIy5x2qAawCKgBGAs/s1600/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="1600" height="464" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kpez5VJDPnc/WYeFo18GxyI/AAAAAAAAlJI/BxhNlbOy70w48cXtZS7r_M3TIy5x2qAawCKgBGAs/s640/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B09.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CLICK TO ENLARGE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rgWhzX_jknM/WYeFo1tLM-I/AAAAAAAAlJI/Sc-eVzMCP54cpKrI3JnSzPyUUalXFpkxQCKgBGAs/s1600/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1128" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rgWhzX_jknM/WYeFo1tLM-I/AAAAAAAAlJI/Sc-eVzMCP54cpKrI3JnSzPyUUalXFpkxQCKgBGAs/s640/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B10.jpg" width="450" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CLICK TO ENLARGE</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">David taps on my door at the appointed hour. I'm still in my shreddies stuffing a food bag the size, shape and weight of a size 45 leather hiking boot and a bag of Cox's Orange Pippins into the top of my rucsac.<br /><br />Phil waves us off. He's going to drive around to Braemar whilst we stagger through the wild stuff. I think he has the better deal... However, the weather's holding up and we have a fine four miles of gentle walking through the Rothiemurchus up to the Cairngorm Club Footbridge. Here we bump into Jayme &amp; Peter's party who are aiming to head up onto the tops on their way to Braemar. They're welcome to that and I sit myself down to make inroads into the food bag as we have set out with no breakfast. A hefty Naan bread from yesterday evening, stuffed with cheese fills a hole nicely.<br /><br />David's itching to be off and so reluctantly I stir my stumps and we set off again.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zP5ZR8x8kFI/WYeGE6DKUFI/AAAAAAAAlJM/Y5tgegmrewYTP2iWNo8sBtfG0fgVm0lzwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zP5ZR8x8kFI/WYeGE6DKUFI/AAAAAAAAlJM/Y5tgegmrewYTP2iWNo8sBtfG0fgVm0lzwCKgBGAs/s640/1090434.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THAT WAY</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you've not spent time in the Rothiemurchus I would encourage you to visit. It is a magical place but the Rothiemurchus Estate is doing their utmost to screw it up, clear felling whole areas, and building a new town opposite Aviemore. And the Cairngorm National Park Authority, the supposed guardians of this magical place backs this behaviour, despite howls of protest from the public. Only in Scotland...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F14bt8CWx_M/WYeGE9bEjjI/AAAAAAAAlJM/9yWczxL4xEUnOQlFyA-LZ590Reajn0EIwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090435_20170623171746967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1211" data-original-width="1600" height="484" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F14bt8CWx_M/WYeGE9bEjjI/AAAAAAAAlJM/9yWczxL4xEUnOQlFyA-LZ590Reajn0EIwCKgBGAs/s640/1090435_20170623171746967.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE ROTHIEMURCHUS FOREST</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's a steady plod uphill with the breeze in the tree tops and birdsong as our backing track. Down to our right the Allt Druidh is tumbling over its rocky bed. This really is fabulous walking.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jBg2hd9Z0bc/WYeGEys8eXI/AAAAAAAAlJM/7OoLAu6xg-cVb461C1_oLdo6OM9GzhXrQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1009" data-original-width="1600" height="402" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jBg2hd9Z0bc/WYeGEys8eXI/AAAAAAAAlJM/7OoLAu6xg-cVb461C1_oLdo6OM9GzhXrQCKgBGAs/s640/1090436.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE TOP END OF THE ROTHIEMURCHUS</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It's a brief couple of miles in the forest and we now emerge into the lunar vastness of the Lairig Ghru. Here are some interesting facts about the Lairig Ghru:&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li>It would be possible to fit the entire London Underground Tube system within the void that is the Lairig Ghru (Not including the stations.)*</li><li>It would be possible to fit the combined populations of France and Germany within the void that is the Lairig Ghru. (Some say that this is a splendid idea.)* &nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>&nbsp; <span style="font-size: large;">*</span>One or more of the above interesting facts may be a figment of my imagination.<br /><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hO05YYVmIZc/WYeGE5ZI8-I/AAAAAAAAlJM/xlUR_HMT9hoczilutvI-NqUXyBHM9It2gCKgBGAs/s1600/1090439_20170623181159402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="1600" height="380" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hO05YYVmIZc/WYeGE5ZI8-I/AAAAAAAAlJM/xlUR_HMT9hoczilutvI-NqUXyBHM9It2gCKgBGAs/s640/1090439_20170623181159402.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IT DOESN'T LOOK THAT FAR...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We stop for a sheltered lunch immediately before the very top of the pass. The intermittent sunshine is warm, the persistent wind bitingly cold. The boulders are a bit of a bastard in the wind; I've been through this place in very poor weather with Lord Elpus quite a few years ago. I recall them being quite a challenge then. As it is today, it's merely quite tricky, only very nearly breaking my neck a couple of times. David breaks his in four places, but I tape it all back together with duct tape and the lower sections of his Pacer Poles. If you squint, you can barely notice it.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQro_WyNnPU/WYeGE8Tj1qI/AAAAAAAAlJM/BTWA5I_GSjgRoTrg28kA2AMt9rO5cyDVACKgBGAs/s1600/1090441_20170623182327662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="1600" height="334" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQro_WyNnPU/WYeGE8Tj1qI/AAAAAAAAlJM/BTWA5I_GSjgRoTrg28kA2AMt9rO5cyDVACKgBGAs/s640/1090441_20170623182327662.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MR WILLIAMS ATOP THE LAIRIG GHRU</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We are making steady progress down the ramp from the Pools of Dee when we are overtaken by two wild-eyed speed merchants. One of them is Tim, who you will meet later. They're heading off to Corrour bothy to dump their packs and nip up the Devil's Point. It takes all sorts, I suppose.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7KZjPy5vASc/WYeGE7HvS6I/AAAAAAAAlJM/ZqS0g71CASYHy127RORwUih644jI3tf-ACKgBGAs/s1600/1090443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="822" data-original-width="1600" height="328" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7KZjPy5vASc/WYeGE7HvS6I/AAAAAAAAlJM/ZqS0g71CASYHy127RORwUih644jI3tf-ACKgBGAs/s640/1090443.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOOKING INTO GARBH CHOIRE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I spent a night in Corrour Bothy back in a summer in the mid Seventies. I recall it being a pretty ghastly place back then. It had an earth floor and mice. But it was preferable to being outside as the midges were voracious.&nbsp;</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6J1oSJTqz24/WYeGE8F1tzI/AAAAAAAAlJM/r-Yhz4P38r0SfWVdmi5kJYaLeDOJNmUGgCKgBGAs/s1600/1090444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1297" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6J1oSJTqz24/WYeGE8F1tzI/AAAAAAAAlJM/r-Yhz4P38r0SfWVdmi5kJYaLeDOJNmUGgCKgBGAs/s640/1090444.jpg" width="518" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CORROUR BOTHY COWERING BENEATH THE DEVILS POINT</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />From about here I'm rather hoping we are not. In fact, I'm rather hoping we are three miles further on and about to camp. Eventually, and this does take quite some time, as we approach the Luibeg Burn we can actually see where we're going to stop for the night half a mile the other side of the burn.<br /><br />At this point, in celebration David tumbles forward, head first, down the steep hill and hits the very hard track like a sack of spuds. He breaks his fall with his arm, on a very well constructed stone cross drain. On impact my heart is in my mouth. It looks sickeningly painful. We sit for a few minutes to recover our senses. Surprisingly, nothing's broken. It's just as well as I have used up all my duct tape fixing his blasted neck.<br /><br />As I finally climb into Trinnie Trailstar for a lie-down the rain starts in earnest and continues for most of the night.<br /><br />That was a bigger day than expected. But it's done. I sleep very well indeed. Braemar tomorrow!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-size: large;">DAY 9, SATURDAY: GLEANN LAOIGH BHEAG TO BRAEMAR</span></u></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Rufty-Tufty Bastard is surprisingly perky this morning. I put it down to the promise of a sniff of a barmaid's apron in Braemar. We pack in the rain which turns gently to a soft drizzle. It's all quite lovely. It's a little over ten miles into Braemar on easy tracks. We should be there for lunch!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iUgCEgR3cTw/WYeGXkBZRHI/AAAAAAAAlJQ/mbAl0TRcVdkfZvY4abdUMzIL6aGJAFVhQCKgBGAs/s1600/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1128" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iUgCEgR3cTw/WYeGXkBZRHI/AAAAAAAAlJQ/mbAl0TRcVdkfZvY4abdUMzIL6aGJAFVhQCKgBGAs/s640/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B10.jpg" width="450" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CLICK TO ENLARGE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pBgUZWI5kFI/WYeGXmJowtI/AAAAAAAAlJQ/SB48QsKMpigNxd0LvwnHIkZ7ExLJaw8WQCKgBGAs/s1600/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="1600" height="450" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pBgUZWI5kFI/WYeGXmJowtI/AAAAAAAAlJQ/SB48QsKMpigNxd0LvwnHIkZ7ExLJaw8WQCKgBGAs/s640/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CLICK TO ENLARGE</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I forgot to take a snap of our campsite last night, what with the rain and all, so I make amends this morning. You'll have to use your imagination a little, but you get the drift. The picture below is of a naked Trinnie.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TULiOblfm68/WYeHXY6nj-I/AAAAAAAAlJc/aJ2dh1LyPMwbBUU-GqvVIsihQjHIUcG3gCKgBGAs/s1600/1090445_20170623184437210_20170623184554308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="849" data-original-width="1600" height="338" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TULiOblfm68/WYeHXY6nj-I/AAAAAAAAlJc/aJ2dh1LyPMwbBUU-GqvVIsihQjHIUcG3gCKgBGAs/s640/1090445_20170623184437210_20170623184554308.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TRINNIE TRAILSTAR WOZ ERE</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Fortunately David is clothed in the next picture and is actually smiling!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JVHciFlmR6Q/WYeHXem3L_I/AAAAAAAAlJc/BHCNpR8Ccz4ztO05NRDF36wN4beFYWQVQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="1600" height="408" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JVHciFlmR6Q/WYeHXem3L_I/AAAAAAAAlJc/BHCNpR8Ccz4ztO05NRDF36wN4beFYWQVQCKgBGAs/s640/1090446.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GLEN LUIBEG</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The weather enhances the place. We're soon at Derry Lodge, where we bump into Jayme and Peter's team and for the first time, first-timers Rich and his brother. (Pete?)&nbsp;</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fk_UqAARhok/WYeHXTKjOwI/AAAAAAAAlJc/TWxun4Hn6Z8f9dk7jRn6L-a987xe-J2cwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fk_UqAARhok/WYeHXTKjOwI/AAAAAAAAlJc/TWxun4Hn6Z8f9dk7jRn6L-a987xe-J2cwCKgBGAs/s640/1090447.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GLEN LUI</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I spend most of this section walking on my own, as I dislike large groups, and stop frequently to take all these moody snaps. It appears that the National Trust for Scotland, when it isn't threatening/bullying small Scottish gear manufacturers with highly dubious legal actions, is doing a grand job hereabouts. The place certainly feels more natural than the last time I was here.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xB5kt2rOiX4/WYeHXRs_qDI/AAAAAAAAlJc/HFImZ18vYSEg6xJEIiIpL7Db7284d5e0QCKgBGAs/s1600/1090448_20170623190459903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1005" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xB5kt2rOiX4/WYeHXRs_qDI/AAAAAAAAlJc/HFImZ18vYSEg6xJEIiIpL7Db7284d5e0QCKgBGAs/s640/1090448_20170623190459903.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GLEN LUI</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AMPZAEItFz4/WYeHXTDM4xI/AAAAAAAAlJc/Je42a4qYWocRRSUo4qUOBtVFulIra44rwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1022" data-original-width="1600" height="408" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AMPZAEItFz4/WYeHXTDM4xI/AAAAAAAAlJc/Je42a4qYWocRRSUo4qUOBtVFulIra44rwCKgBGAs/s640/1090449.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GLEN LUI</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QHoLHWUMvy0/WYeHXRQFN6I/AAAAAAAAlJc/1t2FCawAQ6EatHoanXkigrMpo51Mm4euwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="1600" height="376" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QHoLHWUMvy0/WYeHXRQFN6I/AAAAAAAAlJc/1t2FCawAQ6EatHoanXkigrMpo51Mm4euwCKgBGAs/s640/1090450.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GLEN LUI</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YDzUsphyWSA/WYeHXXTwPQI/AAAAAAAAlJc/xaoc_616n3wOsipXXMB72O6DxI3NeK5LgCKgBGAs/s1600/1090452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1019" data-original-width="1600" height="406" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YDzUsphyWSA/WYeHXXTwPQI/AAAAAAAAlJc/xaoc_616n3wOsipXXMB72O6DxI3NeK5LgCKgBGAs/s640/1090452.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GLEN LUI</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's still raining as we make Mar Lodge, via the Tradesmen's entrance to sit at tables and on chairs to drink teas and coffees. It appears the whole TGO Challenge has been through here so far. Well, sixty five of us if you believe the five bar gates on the white board. (See the picture a few below here). I snap away merrily. There are more people, but I don't like using flash and a lot of pictures are beyond unusable.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cs6gwISbSnI/WYeH2Z84dyI/AAAAAAAAlJg/b4uFYbtZ1K8UiU3b4nBLLyFSVqMW076CgCKgBGAs/s1600/1090458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1509" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cs6gwISbSnI/WYeH2Z84dyI/AAAAAAAAlJg/b4uFYbtZ1K8UiU3b4nBLLyFSVqMW076CgCKgBGAs/s640/1090458.jpg" width="602" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">COLIN, MAR LODGE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lq9WBC4yjdE/WYeH2SsKTkI/AAAAAAAAlJg/8wbqpz2Dgn4sclcKABbG4tdeU6UixyNHgCKgBGAs/s1600/1090453_20170623194226871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lq9WBC4yjdE/WYeH2SsKTkI/AAAAAAAAlJg/8wbqpz2Dgn4sclcKABbG4tdeU6UixyNHgCKgBGAs/s640/1090453_20170623194226871.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FAZ. MAR LODGE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IrwxjIz6e2k/WYeH2Xum_nI/AAAAAAAAlJg/yK6-HiXo4cQQ3SmrgkDFcMIssREgZspTQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090460_20170623195517051_20170623195630964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1304" data-original-width="1600" height="520" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IrwxjIz6e2k/WYeH2Xum_nI/AAAAAAAAlJg/yK6-HiXo4cQQ3SmrgkDFcMIssREgZspTQCKgBGAs/s640/1090460_20170623195517051_20170623195630964.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SABINE, MAR LODGE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vZHysNsKsLw/WYeH2QG8-vI/AAAAAAAAlJg/idsFJqfhpXciPO2_SoA3_iM9szYpd5OSgCKgBGAs/s1600/1090461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vZHysNsKsLw/WYeH2QG8-vI/AAAAAAAAlJg/idsFJqfhpXciPO2_SoA3_iM9szYpd5OSgCKgBGAs/s640/1090461.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PAULA, MAR LODGE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N7EtQWPGr8s/WYeH2TM59KI/AAAAAAAAlJg/rxjaIfFTJu0zdTlxYCleqsn-bAR0VlhEQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N7EtQWPGr8s/WYeH2TM59KI/AAAAAAAAlJg/rxjaIfFTJu0zdTlxYCleqsn-bAR0VlhEQCKgBGAs/s640/1090465.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IAN C, MAR LODGE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gn497GnlBac/WYeH2V4wudI/AAAAAAAAlJg/kBR0rPisy8sKtJkVUhS9il9Vg-cvLZBmwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090466_20170623230628572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gn497GnlBac/WYeH2V4wudI/AAAAAAAAlJg/kBR0rPisy8sKtJkVUhS9il9Vg-cvLZBmwCKgBGAs/s640/1090466_20170623230628572.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JAYME, MAR LODGE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oXD8OfbzwPw/WYeH2Qgx4uI/AAAAAAAAlJg/t0ZQ77VIdV4EjWrAb3A28NLAuzt-69oVACKgBGAs/s1600/1090467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1600" height="436" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oXD8OfbzwPw/WYeH2Qgx4uI/AAAAAAAAlJg/t0ZQ77VIdV4EjWrAb3A28NLAuzt-69oVACKgBGAs/s640/1090467.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ROB &amp; REBECCA, MAR LODGE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uQXRHGmx0c4/WYeH2Tn9bOI/AAAAAAAAlJg/BLoWAR1uuX4_4tsHc7q7Guz6rTVsFBoJQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="974" data-original-width="1600" height="388" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uQXRHGmx0c4/WYeH2Tn9bOI/AAAAAAAAlJg/BLoWAR1uuX4_4tsHc7q7Guz6rTVsFBoJQCKgBGAs/s640/1090468.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FAZ &amp; TIM, MAR LODGE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gxm2BHZLvd0/WYeH2cyyBeI/AAAAAAAAlJg/lCPLfZCsGUgy9h9cFmt_nZOmIDS9GCLwQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1208" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gxm2BHZLvd0/WYeH2cyyBeI/AAAAAAAAlJg/lCPLfZCsGUgy9h9cFmt_nZOmIDS9GCLwQCKgBGAs/s640/1090469.jpg" width="482" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PETER M, MAR LODGE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxHpxWc0GpE/WYeH2RcriPI/AAAAAAAAlJg/4m4qm4b6Py8YiVyYrEsd-nRm8UA_sIIzgCKgBGAs/s1600/1090462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1223" data-original-width="1600" height="488" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxHpxWc0GpE/WYeH2RcriPI/AAAAAAAAlJg/4m4qm4b6Py8YiVyYrEsd-nRm8UA_sIIzgCKgBGAs/s640/1090462.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NTS MAR LODGE WHITE BOARD</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">David chivvies me along as he's keen to get to the fleshpots. But not too keen, as he drags me away from our scripted route of a very sensible dry and flat minor road and instead we clamber uphill on forest tracks. The situation is considerably improved as we are walking with a bright young girl called Issy, who David is convinced is our youngest Challenger. She's very flattered by this but remarks that she remembers Lloyd George's maiden speech. Still, she's great company and much much prettier than the grumpy, rufty-tufty bastard I'm usually looking at.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ekuxsv3hDvo/WYeIVqYwyoI/AAAAAAAAlJk/sV4SC9vUSzYRTrMLzQXlsOZtSEritELewCKgBGAs/s1600/1090470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1299" data-original-width="1600" height="518" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ekuxsv3hDvo/WYeIVqYwyoI/AAAAAAAAlJk/sV4SC9vUSzYRTrMLzQXlsOZtSEritELewCKgBGAs/s640/1090470.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">COLIN, ROAD TO BRAEMAR</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NKkbGFm_VJ8/WYeIVj-9XJI/AAAAAAAAlJk/ESwovYcN8JcUqb0E2ObaKVpvqQrwJjqiACKgBGAs/s1600/1090471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="1600" height="454" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NKkbGFm_VJ8/WYeIVj-9XJI/AAAAAAAAlJk/ESwovYcN8JcUqb0E2ObaKVpvqQrwJjqiACKgBGAs/s640/1090471.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ISSY &amp; DAVID, ENROUTE TO BRAEMAR'S TOMINTOUL VIEWPOINT</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Eev1c-y5pbw/WYeIVnjpOXI/AAAAAAAAlJk/Pgx039GYTzQHnW9BjKQMqFu-TB-4FCZ8gCKgBGAs/s1600/1090472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="1600" height="350" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Eev1c-y5pbw/WYeIVnjpOXI/AAAAAAAAlJk/Pgx039GYTzQHnW9BjKQMqFu-TB-4FCZ8gCKgBGAs/s640/1090472.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A RARE SNAP OF DAVID &amp; ME</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S05BnyBbcuc/WYeIVpl1qII/AAAAAAAAlJk/2b61WG2edekkU7VSpFoZUp5cUtzbj31gQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="1600" height="390" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S05BnyBbcuc/WYeIVpl1qII/AAAAAAAAlJk/2b61WG2edekkU7VSpFoZUp5cUtzbj31gQCKgBGAs/s640/1090474.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6tWa0rxS7j8/WYeIVhtPMKI/AAAAAAAAlJk/iC6XuueIt78Wi7-CZGCx9J92iuy5FfCswCKgBGAs/s1600/1090475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1600" height="418" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6tWa0rxS7j8/WYeIVhtPMKI/AAAAAAAAlJk/iC6XuueIt78Wi7-CZGCx9J92iuy5FfCswCKgBGAs/s640/1090475.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE VIEW FROM ABOVE BRAEMAR, BEFORE YOU GET TO THE VIEWPOINT</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">As it happens, the walk to the viewpoint is rather fine with misty vistas of Deeside. If in the future you decide to come this way I strongly recommend that you snap your views before you get to the actual viewpoint, as there you will find all the views obscured by the tops of very vigorous birch trees.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-68s1dFEC1o4/WYeIVrES3XI/AAAAAAAAlJk/gegKRvezu2EpxNBvs2OpWKLko7V7DG3qACKgBGAs/s1600/1090476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="1600" height="486" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-68s1dFEC1o4/WYeIVrES3XI/AAAAAAAAlJk/gegKRvezu2EpxNBvs2OpWKLko7V7DG3qACKgBGAs/s640/1090476.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PITY: ALL VIEWS NOW OBSCURED BY BIRCH TREES</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_mYFmjycjQY/WYeIVmPpvZI/AAAAAAAAlJk/Kt1FpuNEj80_k_7xof6kBseZQd1XeiNEQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="1600" height="390" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_mYFmjycjQY/WYeIVmPpvZI/AAAAAAAAlJk/Kt1FpuNEj80_k_7xof6kBseZQd1XeiNEQCKgBGAs/s640/1090477.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ISSY &amp; DAVID</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally we make Braemar and head straight to Gordon's Tearoom for a slap up lunch. Sadly, Phil has been and gone, kindly leaving my small food parcel in our B&amp;B.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Once in the B&amp;B it's the usual grind of clothes washing, and generally destroying the place with mountains of smelly outdoor gear festooned about the place. Trinnie Trailstar enhances the decorations in the shower, and the spare bed is used to marshal my mounting food mountain.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We hit the Invercauld Arms at six for a few sharp Guinnesses, and then move on to the Gathering Place to meet up with Hugh and Barbara, who I have heard of by reputation but meeting them surpasses expectations. What a wonderful couple.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ncwjI9MCVE/WYeIVl_J54I/AAAAAAAAlJk/9yW2m7P2QuscWMU2wsiJ4r8CsSEZJ3e0gCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20170520_184945383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1571" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ncwjI9MCVE/WYeIVl_J54I/AAAAAAAAlJk/9yW2m7P2QuscWMU2wsiJ4r8CsSEZJ3e0gCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20170520_184945383.jpg" width="628" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IAN, BRAEMAR'S INVERCAULD ARMS</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WE5zRhUW3qk/WYeIqtNiFvI/AAAAAAAAlJo/qBZ2AKctSZsafuU6_HbQEv9Q3YVsh8EoQCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20170520_183227801_20170630175821568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1217" data-original-width="1600" height="486" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WE5zRhUW3qk/WYeIqtNiFvI/AAAAAAAAlJo/qBZ2AKctSZsafuU6_HbQEv9Q3YVsh8EoQCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20170520_183227801_20170630175821568.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BERNIE ROBERTS, THE INVERCAULD ARMS</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HZ515z7oC0o/WYeIqmiqI_I/AAAAAAAAlJo/dfq-QI-vmfAEY27yPx_Stgd_fdt_CIBwQCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20170520_185620842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1326" data-original-width="1600" height="530" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HZ515z7oC0o/WYeIqmiqI_I/AAAAAAAAlJo/dfq-QI-vmfAEY27yPx_Stgd_fdt_CIBwQCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20170520_185620842.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MIKE KNIPE - THE PIEMAN</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_5HKeIJBLas/WYeIqtzv2AI/AAAAAAAAlJo/eZUEGrokdVkZ1gsVaNJfmmeDZNS9qxSLwCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20170520_202838901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1600" height="494" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_5HKeIJBLas/WYeIqtzv2AI/AAAAAAAAlJo/eZUEGrokdVkZ1gsVaNJfmmeDZNS9qxSLwCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20170520_202838901.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MY DEHYDRATED FILLET CAME UP TRUMPS, THE GATHERING PLACE. DECENT BOTTLE OF RED.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U4wKBtcihSg/WYeIqh47c5I/AAAAAAAAlJo/QAPchZkefe8p1Kd0b3ZbwIrz-nevbmtYwCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20170520_202917546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1221" data-original-width="1600" height="488" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U4wKBtcihSg/WYeIqh47c5I/AAAAAAAAlJo/QAPchZkefe8p1Kd0b3ZbwIrz-nevbmtYwCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20170520_202917546.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MAD'N'BAD, THE GATHERING PLACE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">After dinner the night is still young and so I head back to the Invercauld Arms for more Guinness and a sing-song led by the exceedingly talented Croydon. The place is still rammed with happy Challengers, all in very good form. The bar staff encourage us to leave around midnight and I actually find my way back to our B&amp;B the very first time of trying!</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hKev4eMNKS8/WYeIqrsexHI/AAAAAAAAlJo/wFooHkovVdAu5S7lv73bao1lWGUFvZxggCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_20170520_230618416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hKev4eMNKS8/WYeIqrsexHI/AAAAAAAAlJo/wFooHkovVdAu5S7lv73bao1lWGUFvZxggCKgBGAs/s640/IMG_20170520_230618416.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JAYME, THE INVERCAULD ARMS</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All in all, another excellent couple of days and we are still bowling along nicely. We've no blisters and we're getting fitter by the day. We've had half a day off today and we decide to take the morning off tomorrow and take our Foul Weather Alternative route to Lochcallater Lodge. The rest will do us both a bit of good.</div></div>Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-71040960084892769392017-07-31T23:12:00.000+01:002017-08-09T16:13:01.447+01:00TGOC2017 Days 6 & 7: Crossing the Monadh Liath<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Day 6, Wednesday: Drumnadrochit to Glen Mazeran</u></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's two kilometres to Temple Pier from our hotel. Okay, so our rucsacs are topped up with our resupply parcels and all the sandwiches, cakes and pork pies bought yesterday evening in Drumnadrochit. Let's call it a twentyfive minute walk. David's unhappy with this; his inner VeryVeryCautiousMan is running alongside his inner VVNM. So, yesterday evening we agree on a 7:30am start to catch the boat at 8:00am.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the appointed hour, David taps on my door.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm still in my shreddies, wrestling a food bag the size, shape and weight of a Kenwood Chef into my rucsac. Now you may be wondering why I'm always in my shreddies when David comes to call. Have you ever tried to pack a rucsac in a hurry? It's hot and sweaty work.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He sighs...&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>'I'll meet you at the pier, Al..'&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lri6Ykx0sSo/WXzj5VigxBI/AAAAAAAAk0k/8D_mYMYE1gMm3sz9TfYKMcd4P4g6hqirwCKgBGAs/s1600/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1128" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lri6Ykx0sSo/WXzj5VigxBI/AAAAAAAAk0k/8D_mYMYE1gMm3sz9TfYKMcd4P4g6hqirwCKgBGAs/s640/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B06.jpg" width="450" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CLICK TO ENLARGE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xFMdH-Rl2jI/WXzj5SNB_cI/AAAAAAAAk0k/ud2EsiXpwPceuwSE18yxJdBD0XdhMWfjwCKgBGAs/s1600/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="1600" height="450" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xFMdH-Rl2jI/WXzj5SNB_cI/AAAAAAAAk0k/ud2EsiXpwPceuwSE18yxJdBD0XdhMWfjwCKgBGAs/s640/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B07.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CLICK TO ENLARGE</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fqWkTmBHwAY/WXzkOyhkCRI/AAAAAAAAk0o/9_RA3siBOo4cULdr_PS85cNAgjjNRbmFACKgBGAs/s1600/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1600" height="450" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fqWkTmBHwAY/WXzkOyhkCRI/AAAAAAAAk0o/9_RA3siBOo4cULdr_PS85cNAgjjNRbmFACKgBGAs/s640/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B08.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CLICK TO ENLARGE</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today is a very big day. Yesterday, after the blocked access and diversion nonsense, was also a very big day. But today, and tomorrow for that matter, is even bigger. Actually, tomorrow is biggerer still. Lorks!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The information is on the map; it's 30km and 810m of RouteBuddy ascent. That's none of your MemoryMap or Anquet metres. Oh no. These are Big Boy Routebuddy metres of ascent, that are worth twice those other wussy mapping metres. It's probably the equivalent of climbing Nanga Parbat or Mont Blanc in real money. To add to the challenge an hour or so is stripped from our walking, enjoying Gordon Menzies' delightful boat trip across Loch Ness.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v7CM02CXlXM/WYsicJ4X2vI/AAAAAAAAlMU/V0P2uISUtucJ9LAb-2dbRk84YEGycgn1gCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCN1147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v7CM02CXlXM/WYsicJ4X2vI/AAAAAAAAlMU/V0P2uISUtucJ9LAb-2dbRk84YEGycgn1gCKgBGAs/s640/DSCN1147.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TEMPLE PIER. C/O SUE FOSS</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I stroll nonchalantly (only down the ramp, it has to be said) to the pier with a few minutes to spare. I've also had time to enjoy a couple of sausage sandwiches for breakfast on the way; I'm insufferably smug.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3XtnEWWE_jc/WXzkhNT-llI/AAAAAAAAk0s/gTwLOMnRBxEytG1w8e5YNFVVYmHuGvkpwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="1600" height="438" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3XtnEWWE_jc/WXzkhNT-llI/AAAAAAAAk0s/gTwLOMnRBxEytG1w8e5YNFVVYmHuGvkpwCKgBGAs/s640/1090391.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GORDON MENZIES. CHALLENGE SUPPORTER EXTRAORDINAIRE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Gordon's been very busy over the winter and has fitted a swanky new engine in his boat so that there's no longer an engine compartment jutting into the passenger accommodation. He had to raise the deck a fraction, but the result is a more powerful boat with loads more room for everyone. Gordon is one of the TGO Challenge's heroic support team and has been ferrying us across Loch Ness since time began.<br /><br />Here's a few pictures of some of the Challengers in Gordon's boat. (<u>Edit:</u> 9th August '17: I really am hopeless and couldn't remember a lot of Challengers' names, but you all chipped in splendidly and so now the captions are complete.Thank you!)&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PTvckXGHivo/WXzkhGp_dlI/AAAAAAAAk0s/28O7tuXCfGYhek-C7jYdtpEFd5FbijxfwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1357" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PTvckXGHivo/WXzkhGp_dlI/AAAAAAAAk0s/28O7tuXCfGYhek-C7jYdtpEFd5FbijxfwCKgBGAs/s640/1090390.jpg" width="542" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE SPLENDID SUE FOSS, WHO SUPPLIED ME WITH NAMES &amp; PHOTOGRAPHS!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NJIzkZrPkYE/WXzkhMw1hdI/AAAAAAAAk0s/qTnDlwyiSI8jYGuUGtwwldxTq9G5eXjBACKgBGAs/s1600/1090390_20170622232657211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1350" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NJIzkZrPkYE/WXzkhMw1hdI/AAAAAAAAk0s/qTnDlwyiSI8jYGuUGtwwldxTq9G5eXjBACKgBGAs/s640/1090390_20170622232657211.jpg" width="538" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BILL ARCHIBALD</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0dBDc6QX_w/WXzkhC5bd5I/AAAAAAAAk0s/prg_zNzn2gsIXNJv_EK8RGYql1OWBMu_ACKgBGAs/s1600/1090391_20170622233012737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1527" data-original-width="1600" height="610" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0dBDc6QX_w/WXzkhC5bd5I/AAAAAAAAk0s/prg_zNzn2gsIXNJv_EK8RGYql1OWBMu_ACKgBGAs/s640/1090391_20170622233012737.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RUSSELL CRAIG &amp; DAVID MILTON</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Am7SCBTZ2oA/WYslbCaA8pI/AAAAAAAAlMo/K8zKejj99fAAJjv9GgAxuJzeJ5ANuCmXgCKgBGAs/s1600/DSCN1149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Am7SCBTZ2oA/WYslbCaA8pI/AAAAAAAAlMo/K8zKejj99fAAJjv9GgAxuJzeJ5ANuCmXgCKgBGAs/s640/DSCN1149.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NOTICE THE NEW CLEARED PASSENGER SPACE. PICTURE C/O SUE FOSS</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YD1Y7fchhUU/WXzkhLXomxI/AAAAAAAAk0s/pyCylaLadGY75rcWn6cAaTCYGdrcl2otACKgBGAs/s1600/1090393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YD1Y7fchhUU/WXzkhLXomxI/AAAAAAAAk0s/pyCylaLadGY75rcWn6cAaTCYGdrcl2otACKgBGAs/s640/1090393.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RUFTY-TUFTY MR WILLIAMS</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The stroll up the gorge that is the Pass of Inverfarigaig goes particularly well. It's best done in the morning when you're fresh and the sun isn't beating down upon you. Walked in the evening the rocks have all day to absorb the sun's heat and the place can be like an oven. You'll see from the picture below that David looks as fresh as a daisy. But a chair is a chair, and should never be passed by.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C2ADSuom85k/WXzkhMTELaI/AAAAAAAAk0s/kVw1eEMuYhUSi-aBQGWrdlW4N8dKHC5ygCKgBGAs/s1600/1090394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C2ADSuom85k/WXzkhMTELaI/AAAAAAAAk0s/kVw1eEMuYhUSi-aBQGWrdlW4N8dKHC5ygCKgBGAs/s640/1090394.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HACKED OFF, DAVID THROWS DOWN HIS PACK AND WAITS FOR A BUS</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It's about eight miles on minor roads from the pier at Inverfarigaig to our turn off onto the Rover Road that will take us up alongside the Allt Mor, where we have a proper rest. It's blissfully sunny, so it's shoes and socks off time, to air the tootsies. Cashews and cranberries, bread and cheese and a gaggle of late-starting Challengers from Ault-na-Goire catching us up.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Re-girding our loins we're away for the next 1,200 ft climb up the track to the beautiful estate shooting bothy at Easting 654. The huge downside to this part of the walk are a multitude of monstrous blades of the Dunmaglass wind turbines rearing up and down in a chaotic fashion just to our right over the near ridge. To be honest, it's heartbreaking.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's hot work and soon all our water's gone until we make the cool shade of the bothy and replenishment. Then it's a second lunch, or is it an early afternoon tea? The Ault-na-Goire crew include the excellent Darren, who is always smiling. That's the thing about Challengers; they're inevitably smiley people.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bO2NM5209aE/WXzkhFfazhI/AAAAAAAAk0s/T2hK8DGzsmITwv3vfFAAfyyWo70jqnSLgCKgBGAs/s1600/1090395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1600" height="408" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bO2NM5209aE/WXzkhFfazhI/AAAAAAAAk0s/T2hK8DGzsmITwv3vfFAAfyyWo70jqnSLgCKgBGAs/s640/1090395.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FOUR I CANNOT REMEMBER, &nbsp;RUFTY TUFTY MR W AND DARREN LONG</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">David's impatient to be off as he'd quite like an early finish so we head off, and rather than take our map's looping route to the start of the caochan that will take us down the other side, we head directly up the hill on a faint path that serves the line of very smart grouse butts we follow.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We're going to notice this gentrification a fair bit in our crossing of the Monadh Liath. In recent years a lot of money has been invested in this grotesque business, with upgraded tracks (a more accurate description would be roads) and refurbished shooting butts. The chinless bastards who enjoy murdering birds for fun are obviously none too keen on walking or getting covered in dirty soil in their five star butts. There is now a great deal more predator traps than there ever used to be and significantly more muirburn. What with the wind turbines, the once glorious Monadh Liath has become industrialised. Nature has lost its grip on the place.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course, the five star bothy we have just left is absolutely appalling...</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ikwLCJVkNzQ/WXzkhOvX8xI/AAAAAAAAk0s/Ox9AeF97zHUCi9Cl_lZqpGrrG_GC8EWIACKgBGAs/s1600/1090398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ikwLCJVkNzQ/WXzkhOvX8xI/AAAAAAAAk0s/Ox9AeF97zHUCi9Cl_lZqpGrrG_GC8EWIACKgBGAs/s640/1090398.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOOKING BACK TO THE VERY SMART SHOOTERS' CABIN AND BEYOND (IT'S THE CABIN THAT'S SMART...)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The peaty ground is a delight. It's wonderful to have a natural elastic surface underfoot again after two days of hard tracks and roads. There's not a gloopy spot in sight as we amble over the peaty bealach. If your fancy takes you there are camping spots to die for, in weather like this I might add. However I would advise you to park your shelter with your door facing away from Dunmaglass, as you'll get a first rate view of the colossal wind farm from here.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X9GWkHuIE8s/WXzkhLmxAyI/AAAAAAAAk0s/RzUpZy_D0CMuZbQCA5erCqA6SI7cV7yJQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1599" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X9GWkHuIE8s/WXzkhLmxAyI/AAAAAAAAk0s/RzUpZy_D0CMuZbQCA5erCqA6SI7cV7yJQCKgBGAs/s640/1090399.jpg" width="638" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2,300 FEET UP IN THE GLORIOUS MONADH LIATH. FABULOUS STUFF!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Over the top and it's time to head down. And what joy there is now. We follow the peat groughs' natural fall on bouncy soil, zig-zagging at first and then careering happily onwards as they make way to become a caochan, bouncing from bank to bank, jumping the kettle pots with the wind in our faces. Photographs are taken.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5HHxWe_zCRA/WXzkhB7o81I/AAAAAAAAk0s/kYPbxVuL8QMxUULXsN4ibCa3PPAKzCnxgCKgBGAs/s1600/1090401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5HHxWe_zCRA/WXzkhB7o81I/AAAAAAAAk0s/kYPbxVuL8QMxUULXsN4ibCa3PPAKzCnxgCKgBGAs/s640/1090401.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NOT THAT WAY!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7VBnhWi7Ar8/WXzkhFyGKCI/AAAAAAAAk0s/OhJ8fKZXCPAJ7C3DDCvMkQvKZEJ-khMNQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1233" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7VBnhWi7Ar8/WXzkhFyGKCI/AAAAAAAAk0s/OhJ8fKZXCPAJ7C3DDCvMkQvKZEJ-khMNQCKgBGAs/s640/1090400.jpg" width="492" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THAT'S BETTER. NOW, POUT!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g_vDWOidSU0/WXzkhNo5zUI/AAAAAAAAk0s/_X3L-aJ3oVEB4w3nnT207rZq-j7ElnKBwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g_vDWOidSU0/WXzkhNo5zUI/AAAAAAAAk0s/_X3L-aJ3oVEB4w3nnT207rZq-j7ElnKBwCKgBGAs/s640/1090402.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FOLLOWING THE FABULOUS CAOCHAN DOWN TO GLEN MAZERAN</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />A mile from the top we hit the track which we tramp downwards for another four miles to our chosen overnight spot at the edge of woodland in Glen Mazeran. Regardless of how magnificent it has been I'm ready to stop. We dither a little, trying to find the least lumpy spot next to the footbridge and finally flip the shelters up for a well deserved rest. A good day, done.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Day 7, Thursday: Glen Mazeran to High Range Hotel, Aviemore&nbsp;</u></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Waking to sunlight highlighting the patterned ice on Trinnie's flanks tells me it's been a cold night. The picture below was taken about an hour after my early morning call. Click on it and you'll see the remains of the ice.<br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CCSkgXav01c/WXzqCWbe1jI/AAAAAAAAk08/Aq53J8BBcWAB5ChwX5jqz7day2zS3YZ2gCKgBGAs/s1600/1090405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="1600" height="468" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CCSkgXav01c/WXzqCWbe1jI/AAAAAAAAk08/Aq53J8BBcWAB5ChwX5jqz7day2zS3YZ2gCKgBGAs/s640/1090405.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MORNINGS DON'T COME BETTER THAN THIS: DAVID, GLEN MAZERAN CAMPSITE. CLICK TO ENLARGE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">As I mentioned yesterday, today's walk is tougher than yesterday's. It's the same distance but with more ascent, this time taken in two large hills. However, we don't have a boat trip taking a slice out of the day, so that balances things up a little. But we are doing another big day after two previous big days, so before going to bed last night we agree on a slightly earlier departure of half past seven. When we reach Aviemore we'll have the usual routine of clothes washing, bathing and going out for a meal. And we're aware that the next day is the Lairig Ghru, so we'll need to be well rested for that.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Who on earth designed this route?&nbsp;</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9-3W4Je9040/WXzqCQDseGI/AAAAAAAAk08/ukEtbiUSwCEUhetCMzXi92Qma4A5GYn1wCKgBGAs/s1600/1090406_20170623003303334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="1600" height="452" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9-3W4Je9040/WXzqCQDseGI/AAAAAAAAk08/ukEtbiUSwCEUhetCMzXi92Qma4A5GYn1wCKgBGAs/s640/1090406_20170623003303334.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GLEN MAZERAN. CLICK TO ENLARGE</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Happily we're away by 7:20. Obviously, with my food bag now the size of four grapefruits it means that the rucsac stuffing is considerably easier.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ifN9TEdDb8M/WXzp4PNtksI/AAAAAAAAk04/m5FZ14VlP8UHCMjvx_LoK9mRqaorE9bRQCKgBGAs/s1600/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1600" height="450" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ifN9TEdDb8M/WXzp4PNtksI/AAAAAAAAk04/m5FZ14VlP8UHCMjvx_LoK9mRqaorE9bRQCKgBGAs/s640/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B08.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CLICK TO ENLARGE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xVTB4x9v5tU/WXzp4Gim20I/AAAAAAAAk04/Kd0dZKXHUSwHetZmseh1-hsydrwnT99kgCKgBGAs/s1600/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="1600" height="464" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xVTB4x9v5tU/WXzp4Gim20I/AAAAAAAAk04/Kd0dZKXHUSwHetZmseh1-hsydrwnT99kgCKgBGAs/s640/TGOC2017%2BMAP%2B09.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CLICK TO ENLARGE</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />As we leave we notice a few Challengers still camped further back up the glen and assume it's the crew from the smart shooters' bothy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aaUVP2vopws/WXzqR2i7jCI/AAAAAAAAk1A/mfvhNjkHZGAvyRthiz0-da3sIOC6F3kiQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="1600" height="376" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aaUVP2vopws/WXzqR2i7jCI/AAAAAAAAk1A/mfvhNjkHZGAvyRthiz0-da3sIOC6F3kiQCKgBGAs/s640/1090407.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE LOCALS</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WtnxBw6nN5k/WXzqR3gjhCI/AAAAAAAAk1A/UAMmaOBzmRMwvTxG3kOnqDiMkQ6J6aElwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1250" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WtnxBw6nN5k/WXzqR3gjhCI/AAAAAAAAk1A/UAMmaOBzmRMwvTxG3kOnqDiMkQ6J6aElwCKgBGAs/s640/1090408.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's another glorious sunny day as we amble down the glen to meet the Findhorn. I'm secretly hoping that it's peeing down with rain somewhere on the Challenge. Phil would be proud of me.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l5i22yVovFI/WXzqRziZo1I/AAAAAAAAk1A/cwwlLFQ-b6Erys8ElxhCTVj788bZ5OPSgCKgBGAs/s1600/1090410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l5i22yVovFI/WXzqRziZo1I/AAAAAAAAk1A/cwwlLFQ-b6Erys8ElxhCTVj788bZ5OPSgCKgBGAs/s640/1090410.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RIVER FINDHORN</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After turning south onto the very sketchy (at first) grassy track we pass through a gate and the blighter becomes extraordinarily steep. All quite unnecessarily so, if you ask me. Someone should write a letter about this. It's the little clamber up the side of An Socach, in case you were thinking of coming this way. Be prepared. We call for a ten minute break to admire the view and recover our composure.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LfK_XcxgMc4/WXzqR9ys0hI/AAAAAAAAk1A/6xGIf5KVBPUiTDKnFKtqyL4HiZaAdgRxwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LfK_XcxgMc4/WXzqR9ys0hI/AAAAAAAAk1A/6xGIf5KVBPUiTDKnFKtqyL4HiZaAdgRxwCKgBGAs/s640/1090411.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EARLY ELEVENSES</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The track now relents and it's a simple walk up onto Carn RuigheShamhraich with ghastly views back to the Monadh Liath's oldest wind farm, Farr. These turbines are tiddlers compared to the monsters planned these days but they are still a confusing eyesore. If you enlarge the picture below you will see construction vehicles on the new roads they're building for the Farr Wind Farm's new extension. It's called Kyllachy and apparently is a completely different wind farm to Farr. Of course, the Farr Wind Farm developers reduced the number of turbines in order to get planning permission. When Kyllachy went in for planning the developer used the fact that the landscape was already trashed by Farr, so a few more couldn't possibly hurt. That's the way these bastards work. The resulting wind farm will be colossal.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You can blame Tony Blair, Ed Miliband, and especially Alex Salmond for this excrescence, and all the right-on green luvvies who believe that screwing our countryside saves the planet. Bloody idiots.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7vwrHm0ON5Q/WXzqR9i4UMI/AAAAAAAAk1A/IvPoetddrGg-kwNbL6UsphxHQQC8bHmagCKgBGAs/s1600/1090412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="1600" height="284" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7vwrHm0ON5Q/WXzqR9i4UMI/AAAAAAAAk1A/IvPoetddrGg-kwNbL6UsphxHQQC8bHmagCKgBGAs/s640/1090412.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FARR WIND FARM. WITH VEHICLES WORKING ON KYLLACHY WIND FARM, IN REALITY FARR'S EXTENSION</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We take a break and a chair at a table at the lovely little shooters' cabin at Northing 217. If it wasn't for the shooting industry this wouldn't be here. Anyway, it's good to get out of the sunshine for a while.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ZJC25Ecsp8/WXzqR3_4oyI/AAAAAAAAk1A/XWru4Anvwokrlfwi-czwxgzK4iXuPEVRACKgBGAs/s1600/1090413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="1600" height="476" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ZJC25Ecsp8/WXzqR3_4oyI/AAAAAAAAk1A/XWru4Anvwokrlfwi-czwxgzK4iXuPEVRACKgBGAs/s640/1090413.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SHOOTERS' CABIN</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It's a Land Rover Track all the way to the top of Carn Dubh 'Ic an Deoir, but it's still hard work. These Range Rovers (shooters like their comforts these days and the old Landies no longer cut it) have much more powerful engines than my 50cc two stroke and I find some of the gradients fierce in the sunshine.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I83xeFlH_Ls/WXzqR8Q036I/AAAAAAAAk1A/QAisjy1LuNcZcsyHcm0ZoVRI0a4-oD83QCKgBGAs/s1600/1090415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="1600" height="322" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I83xeFlH_Ls/WXzqR8Q036I/AAAAAAAAk1A/QAisjy1LuNcZcsyHcm0ZoVRI0a4-oD83QCKgBGAs/s640/1090415.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOOKING TOWARDS THE BURMA ROAD &amp; THE CAIRNGORMS</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The trig point is now surrounded by electric fences, solar panels and battery boxes for the fences. Last time I was up here with Phil there was just a simple cairn. That seems to have got considerably larger as well. They really are going out of their way to screw the place up.&nbsp;</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9o7ZcRSoJY0/WXzqR2nkwmI/AAAAAAAAk1A/R8XmP7nW0uYOxo7rS1EpLea5vUHXxe3vwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1600" height="416" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9o7ZcRSoJY0/WXzqR2nkwmI/AAAAAAAAk1A/R8XmP7nW0uYOxo7rS1EpLea5vUHXxe3vwCKgBGAs/s640/1090416.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A GATE &amp; AN ELECTRIC FENCE NOW DISFIGURE CARN DUBH IC AN DEOIR. AND MY BOOTS..</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n0QBKbJqhRE/WXzqR-4CYgI/AAAAAAAAk1A/HePFuCU3zWYl98RPDxphZzxT7uPbsrjqwCKgBGAs/s1600/1090417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1600" height="458" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n0QBKbJqhRE/WXzqR-4CYgI/AAAAAAAAk1A/HePFuCU3zWYl98RPDxphZzxT7uPbsrjqwCKgBGAs/s640/1090417.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SHANE, IDLING, ATOP CARN DUBH IC AN DEOIR</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7l8_t8bIuiw/WXzqR1ecnaI/AAAAAAAAk1A/MHz1m6S7D-whkWX5q3r4IA5oIWdpSMI1ACKgBGAs/s1600/P1010982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1283" height="452" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7l8_t8bIuiw/WXzqR1ecnaI/AAAAAAAAk1A/MHz1m6S7D-whkWX5q3r4IA5oIWdpSMI1ACKgBGAs/s640/P1010982.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GRINNING HANDSOME BASTARD MARSHALLING HIS RESOURCES ATOP CARN DUBH IC AN DEOIR</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">All good things come to an end and we have a long way yet to go. The electric fence runs down the southern ridge from the trig point but as we want to head south east at the end of the ridge we walk on the eastern side of the fence, which is now a double line of fencing. It's a fine walk but after five hundred yards or so we notice that the fence dives off due east. We continue hoping for either a gate or a stile. There's nothing. We're now quite a bit further on and the electric fence is in our path. We'll have to get over it.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I tap it with my walking pole. Quite why, I've no idea. Nothing happens.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li>NB: My understanding of all things electrical is woeful. As a schoolboy I once did an experiment to find out how much current a car battery could produce. I had an ammeter. I had a car battery. I attached one of the crocodile clips from the ammeter to one of the terminals on the car battery and the other crocodile clip to the other terminal. At this point my thumb still attached to the crocodile clip started burning. I recoiled in shock. My physics teacher - Mr Bayliss, if you're interested, who was only ever one page ahead of us in the textbook - whacked me round the head with said textbook and called me an idiot. To this day I still have no idea why my thumb caught fire.&nbsp;</li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I touched the fence, gingerly with my finger. Still nothing. I beam with delight. <i>'It's off!' </i>I declare happily. With David's help we lift a large rock to the fence, next to a wooden fence post, to give ourselves a sporting chance of saving our dangly bits from castration from the top strand of wire. As the chap who pronounced the beast safe, I step over the fence first. No, it's nothing, really. You're too kind. It's what any chap would do.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm now in no-man's land between the two fences. Is the second electrified? I give it a careful look. It looks safe to me - no sign of any electrical insulator gubbins. David now steps over the first fence. He bounces back with a very loud squawk! <i>You B*st*rd! </i>he exclaims. <i>'It's bl**dy live!'</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm not sure if David wants anymore children. Luckily, I gather he already has a set. He's no longer keen on crossing the fence and prefers to walk all the way back up the hill to the trig point, go through the gate and walk all the way back down again. &nbsp;You'll see him in the video below, taken to while away the time. He does have a jaunty gait. It must be all the extra energy the fence supplied. He's lucky his plums didn't catch fire, really.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oPbjrMJ5ebc?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Reunited once more, we continue down the gentle ridge to Carn Thearlaich to pick up the LRT down to the Red Bothy on the Dulnain.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li>Note: If you do this walk in crappy weather you'll be pleased to know there's another smart new hut a little way down the track from Carn Thearlaich to provide shelter.</li></ul><div><br /></div><div>The Red Bothy, sometime referred to as Dulnain Bothy Number Four, is an oasis. Various Challengers have been through, some having spent the night here. We take a break outside. I'm stuffing myself with Picnics, flapjack and the last of the pitta bread rammed with wedges of Leerdammer as I know I'm going to have to muster energy for the upcoming Burma Road.</div><div><br /></div><div>Just as we're about to set off, Darren arrives. I must ask him how he dealt with the electrified fence.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SvACuAdotac/WXzqR96ZSlI/AAAAAAAAk1A/6YtASVj54hgv-eLd59Mj4twct1D6v-tQACKgBGAs/s1600/1090419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1009" data-original-width="1600" height="402" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SvACuAdotac/WXzqR96ZSlI/AAAAAAAAk1A/6YtASVj54hgv-eLd59Mj4twct1D6v-tQACKgBGAs/s640/1090419.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DARREN WITH RED BOTHY LASSITUDE. DAVID ITCHING FOR THE FLESHPOTS OF AVIEMORE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It's the usual plod up the Burma Road and we're making quite reasonable time. Neither of us appear to be lagging and we make the top in good time and in very good order.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7jCfaVU2L60/WXzqRyhtQhI/AAAAAAAAk1A/pSDHLI7agiAkfgR4lmBjI_Hz70qwXCwDQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="1600" height="412" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7jCfaVU2L60/WXzqRyhtQhI/AAAAAAAAk1A/pSDHLI7agiAkfgR4lmBjI_Hz70qwXCwDQCKgBGAs/s640/1090420.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOOKING DOWN THE FINDHORN FROM THE BURMA ROAD</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">As we actually crest the rise, a familiar silhouette graces the skyline. Lord Elpus!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This beautiful man has spent the night somewhere hereabouts in his tent. Not only that, but he has also lugged an additional two kilograms of beer up with him! We take pity on him and insist that we reduce this heavy burden forthwith. Old Speckled Hen. A life-saver. I could happily spend an hour or so here. All the hard work is now done. It's just a four mile-ish plod down the hill now to Aviemore. However, David's restless again and it's suddenly got a bit blowy and cold. And sure enough, the first spatters of rain arrive. We set off, our team happily reunited once again.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lMarBinVz9c/WXzqRyEOBeI/AAAAAAAAk1A/8mr41gyKVjsEEYwKrzDtx-tmJXsN8nncQCKgBGAs/s1600/1090421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="1600" height="450" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lMarBinVz9c/WXzqRyEOBeI/AAAAAAAAk1A/8mr41gyKVjsEEYwKrzDtx-tmJXsN8nncQCKgBGAs/s640/1090421.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YEE HAH!!! LORD ELPUS ARRIVES WITH 2KG OF OLD SPECKLED HEN ATOP THE BURMA ROAD</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l2yRbf240R4/WXzqRyGxxLI/AAAAAAAAk1A/cNB_ZwkyPH4GRsmuveVtG9o7KxVBySTlACKgBGAs/s1600/1090422_20170623091529346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="1600" height="408" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l2yRbf240R4/WXzqRyGxxLI/AAAAAAAAk1A/cNB_ZwkyPH4GRsmuveVtG9o7KxVBySTlACKgBGAs/s640/1090422_20170623091529346.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ABOUT TO HEAD OFF ON THE LONG DOWNHILL TO THE A9 WITH THE THREAT OF INCOMING SHOWERS</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o3TC0MVT230/WXzqR6uAYSI/AAAAAAAAk1A/ik-ZsZblZ4UZ3Z7rDzrWdmkdiBSxHMFqgCKgBGAs/s1600/1090425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o3TC0MVT230/WXzqR6uAYSI/AAAAAAAAk1A/ik-ZsZblZ4UZ3Z7rDzrWdmkdiBSxHMFqgCKgBGAs/s640/1090425.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TWO WET DOGS IN THE RAIN. CAIRNGORMS BEHIND IN SUNSHINE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a61VCA6cyUU/WXzqRxhHiII/AAAAAAAAk1A/IF1nUXKiXAUOqucNxOZyy8O7glOEFhp7gCKgBGAs/s1600/1090426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a61VCA6cyUU/WXzqRxhHiII/AAAAAAAAk1A/IF1nUXKiXAUOqucNxOZyy8O7glOEFhp7gCKgBGAs/s640/1090426.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A GREAT VIEW OF THE CAIRNGORMS WITH SWEATY FOREGROUND CLUTTER</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YqJ4LDClUz8/WXzqR5CgjPI/AAAAAAAAk1A/e6GfnEb-Zv07SaTtivjVVdJBnTOOotEXQCKgBGAs/s1600/P1010987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="773" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YqJ4LDClUz8/WXzqR5CgjPI/AAAAAAAAk1A/e6GfnEb-Zv07SaTtivjVVdJBnTOOotEXQCKgBGAs/s640/P1010987.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NO. I DON'T KNOW EITHER. IT'S A MAN THING, OBVIOUSLY...</td></tr></tbody></table><br />This is one of those Photoshop jobs that David is rather good at. I think he asked us to pout...<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hwXWGE4AteQ/WXzqR1pryKI/AAAAAAAAk1A/-xv7DYnQhgcjO65NWypw0PRj2_BJq043gCKgBGAs/s1600/1090429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="1600" height="402" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hwXWGE4AteQ/WXzqR1pryKI/AAAAAAAAk1A/-xv7DYnQhgcjO65NWypw0PRj2_BJq043gCKgBGAs/s640/1090429.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WITH ALL OUR BEER STOPS DARREN CATCHES US UP, SO WE WALK TOGETHER TO AVIEMORE</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Happily, what with our Beer Lassitude stops and all, Darren catches us up and we stroll down the hill to Aviemore together.<br /><br />I had forgotten about the last awful trudge along the road to Aviemore. It's barely over a mile, but it feels like ten. Phil, in charge of booking accommodation this year, played a blinder tonight. The High Range Hotel is the very first building you come to upon arriving in Aviemore. We part with Darren who is staying further along in the village.<br /><br />I fall onto my bed in the room absolutely knackered. It takes three or four cups of tea before I can be persuaded to stand up and sort out the washing. Then it's out on the town to the Indian restaurant, passing what looks to be a perfectly good fish and chip cafe. Quite a few Tiger beers later, we stagger back to the hotel for a deep sleep.</div>Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com24